United States Air Force offer specialized training

Specialized training opportunities have been offered to members of the Fiji Police Force by the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations Region 6.

A virtual meeting was held today with the Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu and the Commander of the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations Field Investigations Region Six Colonel Vasaga Tilo this afternoon.  

Today's meeting follows initial discussions held on the side of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) Executive Leadership Team meeting in Australia earlier this year.

Speaking from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Col Tilo said they were still keen on delivering training opportunities initially discussed and were exploring ways of doing so around the challenges posed by  COVID-19.  

“We wouldn’t have expected that we would be in this place right now after the meeting in February, and we have not forgotten about our training we offered up and shared and are still interested in trying to work in a potential schedule”.  

“It’s very difficult to do that with most countries in the Indo-Pacific and Oceania region not opening up borders for travel which is understandable, but it doesn’t mean that we cannot talk about the potential of conducting the training virtually”.  

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations Region 6 specializes in Law Enforcement Investigative Skills Exchange Programs.

Discussions revolved around the possibilities of conducting virtual training sessions for Middle Managers Course to more specialized fields of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Cases.  

“We are open to ideas because we are not optimistic that anything will open soon as far as international travel is concerned”.  

“If we wait for COVID-19 that could be a long time from now and could miss the opportunity to exchange.

Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu acknowledged the Commander’s commitment and said the Fiji Police Force is ready to work with their institution to draw up training schedules.  

He added that it’s another new dimension of training as the Police would often work with other Policing agencies, however any assistance that would go towards upskilling Police Officers will always be welcomed.