The officers who took their oath on Friday were Raymin Omelau, Inosencio Meteolechol, Mcquelien Ngirmang, Ellington Tengoll, Anelize Emiliano, Webster Franz, Alladin Llecholch, Murray Blesam, Vito Timarong, Allison Baiei and Bryson Ngiratumerang.
The officers were sworn-in by BPS Director Norvert Yano.Meteolechol, Franz and Ngiratumerang were former police officers and were hired back by the Bureau.They retired several years ago but decided to come back as police officers.Minister of Justice Johnny Gibbons said half of them will be assigned to the regular police works while half of them will be assigned to the US Embassy.“Because they are new and they don’t have training yet, they will have to work with the regular police officers to be able to come as full time police officers. They are reserve officers until they get fully trained to get police works,” Gibbons said.Minister Gibbons told the officers that their primary objective is to protect people and properties.“They don’t have to abuse their authorities as police officers but to make sure that people are safe,” The Minister said.Director Yano in a separate interview said:”They have to be committed and everything has to come from their hearts and to put the country above all things otherwise they won’t be able to perform their duties properly.”“They have to take care of their families also so that when they leave their home their families will not bother them and there will be peace when they report to work. It’s not easy to become a police officer,” Yano added.Yano said some of them are already working at the US Embassy on a not regular time basis but now they are already hired as full time officers.“Some of them are already working as regular police officers and some of them are already working at the US Embassy but some of them have not been admitted to academy so we have to send them to academy before they can carry firearms.” Yano said.“Or if there’s an opportunity outside Palau, if there’s academy in Saipan and in Guam we will send them off to be a part of that police academy. Right now, they are all under training with regular police officers so that they will learn the basic police works while waiting for the academy,” Yano said.The first timers are Ngirmang, Tengoll, Llecholch, Blesam, Timarong and Baiei. They will be trained once the academy starts.Ngirmang, Tengoll, Llecholch and Timarong are all from Ngiwal State.Baiei is a former Marine Law Enforcement officer.
