The Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, Oqua Etim, has ordered police personnel to treat members of the public with dignity and respect while discharging their duties.

Mr Etim gave the warning in Gombe on Monday while decorating 19 promoted senior officers and presenting cheques to families of fallen officers.

He said recent viral videos of officers abusing members of the public were unacceptable, and anyone caught would be shown the way out.

“The police force frowns at incivility to members of the public; members of the public are your employers, and you are their employees, so the moment you want to start challenging your employer, it means you want to leave the job.

“A wise man does not need to be told that respect is reciprocal. There is no police boy or girl, we are all policemen and women, so we should act accordingly,” he said.

The CP emphasised that he would ensure that any officer caught in the state brutalising any member of the public faced the full wrath of the law.

To the promoted officers, Mr Etim said much was expected of them regarding reciprocating their elevation.

“For those who have not been promoted now, ours is coming. You celebrate with those who celebrate so that you will be celebrated.”

Seven officers were promoted from Superintendent of Police to Chief Superintendent of Police, 10 from Assistant Superintendent of Police to Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Also, one Chief Superintendent of Police was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police and one Assistant Commissioner of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Mr Etim, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, presented cheques worth N18.5 million to families of 25 police officers who died in active service.

(NAN)