Gov. Edgar M. Chatto inspired the 69-strong police officers of Class Number 377-15 during the closing ceremonies of their Criminal Investigation Course Wednesday.

After seven weeks of training, raw talent and inexperience turned the young law enforcers into quick, sharp and witty criminal investigators willing to take on the challenge of tackling criminal minds.

With the governor during the ceremonies were PSInsp David Niluag, PInsp Dennis Lomor, Inspector Olaer and PSUPT Eduardo Saavedra, who were equally proud of what the new graduates have achieved and become, led by their Class President SPO1 Mariano Luzon, Jr.

Gov. Chatto congratulated the successful trainees especially those who passed with flying colors, five in all, and belonging to the fairer sex, “a testament that women are just as good as men.”

“Police work is a very challenging task and there are always obstacles in life and in whatever career we choose,” stressed Gov. Chatto, admitting, that “there would always be challenges in our careers for we are married to our work.”

“In public service,” he added, “we are committed to the people where our commitment always stands.”

Gov. Chatto, himself a multi-awarded public servant, reminded the neophyte investigators that being in public service is being committed to the people.

“And because serving the people is a privilege, it comes with very important responsibilities,” and this is where, as public servants and law enforcers at that, investigating crimes and delving deep into criminal minds are very important tasks which every investigator should, and must, take seriously.

The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), taking seriously its role as the province’s guardian on peace and security, has directed its member agencies to give monthly updates of its operations with their respective results.

The governor further added that it is human nature to aspire to become better versions of ourselves, and inherent in every law enforcer to aim for sharpened capabilities so they could be at par, or better yet, better, than those intending to break the rules and bend the law.

Thus, Gov. Chatto firmly believes that law enforcers should be given the chance to undergo trainings for them to have a better understanding of the criminal mind and how it works, affording them a much better chance of apprehending those in conflict with the law and putting them behind bars.

He reminded the police officers that the Provincial Government’s legal assistance for effective law enforcement program (LAELEP) is still active, always at the ready to give free legal assistance to those in the police force who would be needing it in the course of duty.

Gov. Chatto thanked the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) under PSSUPT Dennis Agustin for a very capable, strong and competent police force in Bohol.

But still, he admitted that nothing could ever be achieved without cooperation and collaboration of all sectors, especially that of civilians who are continuously giving useful and prompt information, thereby being a big help to successful police operations.

However, having noticed that awardees were only handed blank pieces of paper as symbols of a job well done, Gov. Chatto handed out cash incentives and promised that the Provincial Government would shoulder medals of excellence for succeeding similar ceremonies. (JLV/PGBh/EDCom)