The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin served as KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before resigning in 1991 to begin a political career 1991 in Saint Petersburg. Mr Putin knows Russia very well.

This is the reason Mr Putin has become very powerful and has got Russians to do what he wants because he went through a system that allowed him to know everything that was happening in the country. That is the “Good” Putin for me and not the one that has provoked war in Ukraine. I am comparing the rise and traits of the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Fayia Sellu to the good traits of Mr Putin. The good news for the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is that IGP Fayia Sellu had gone through all the ranks in the SLP and represented it internationally. He is a seasoned police officer.

The educated and outspoken IGP served in the intelligence system of the Sierra Leone Police; the Criminal Investigation Denartment (CID); the special Branch and the secret service at State house. He also served as a local unit commander (LUC ) for several Police stations around the country; served at the Complaint Discipline Internal Investigation Department (CDII) ; as the Administrative Assistant at Police Headquarters, and headed the Traffic Department.

Many Police Officers across the country have described him as a disciplinarian some have even warned their colleagues that discipline is about to be restored in the Sierra Leone Police for the first time after the Presidency of late President Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah in 2007. The SLP will be a ” Force for Good” once again following his appointments.

Mr Fayia Sell has never been a biased police officers and has always put his country above all other interests. He is quite a proactive officer . He does not wait until criminal strike before he acts.

He nips them in the bud ! This is how he cleansed Bo City of Criminals when he was police Commander for the Southern Region.

If the police do not Change for the better with IG Sellu Calliber of leadership, I believe the police will take a Long time to be reformed. Let’s hope the SLP adopts an international best practice under Fayia Sellu