SSPS Graduation

My final weeks in Torit have been busy. We had the SSPS Basic Police Training course on going for 3 months and it finally came to a close. In this Basic Police Training course we try to enlighten the SSPS on their role as police covering several different topics in policing at an accepted international standard. This is not always easy. Alot of these people are, as they say themselves, "straight from the jungle" with no education whatsoever. My training officers did well and the best they could given the circumstances.

As the Basic Police Training course was coming to a an end, I received a call that a delegation from UNMIS main headquarters wanted to come to Torit for the graduation ceremony. So my team and I went to work and were able to organize a formal graduation ceremony in about a week. We had high ranking officials from the SSPS, the state government, and UNMIS main headquarters attend. Everything went off well and the graduation was a success. After the ceremony, we played a football match versus the graduates. We lost horribly, but the locals enjoyed the entertainment.

After it was all said and done, it was time to plan one last Long Range Patrol. I sent a team of 9 UNPOLS to a place called Kapoeta approximately 5 hours drive away towards the border of Kenya for 6 days. They were a little leary about going. We have had a lot of violent cattle raids in the area, but we have no choice. We needed to go as it has been over a year since any UNPOLS have been to this place. This was most of my team that was going except for 2 and the last time I would see them. I got up early the morning of the patrol to make sure everything was in line and to see them off. I would be leaving Torit before their return to start my checkout. I stood at the gate to our compound and waved them one last goodbye as they left for the patrol.

I have now packed all of my things and have 2 more days before I fly out of Torit to begin my check out process. First Juba for 2 days, then Khartoum for 7 before flying back to Canada.

Cheers,

Rory

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) Physical Training with the SSPS recruits, 2, 3, & 4) SSPS graduation drill presentation, 4)The State Police Commissioner Brigadier Joseph NATIO, Brigadier General Jackson ELIA, RHQ Training Coordinator Sam ORJI (Nigeria), and me watching the drill presentation, 5) Address to the Graduating Class, 6 & 7) A final salute, 8) SSPS versus UNPOL...hey is that Cristiano Ronaldo out there?)