For all to see, heroes in khaki on hoardings

Villupuram SP comes up with idea in a bid to boost morale

Wide recognition: A flex board with words of appreciation for the police personnel who cracked sensational cases, on display at the entrance to the District Police Office in Villupuram.

A high-ranking police officer in Villupuram district has adopted a novel method of putting up flex boards complimenting good work of men in khaki to motivate the police force. In an effort aimed at encouraging policemen, Superintendent of Police S. Jayakumar has come out with a morale booster by erecting flex boards of honest policemen with words of appreciation for their investigation in cracking criminal cases.

Every week, the names of police personnel beginning from the rank of constables to Inspectors who have helped in busting criminal gangs, cracking major cases of burglary, dacoity and other heinous crimes are promptly identified and sent to the District Police Office. The names of the officers and the cases detected by them are displayed on a flex board installed at two places in the District Police Office in Villupuram.

“The initiative is aimed at sending a positive message to the men in khaki that good work will not go unnoticed. Cash awards are handed over to them during the weekly crime meeting at the DPO every Friday. Though the cash amount may be minimal, it is distributed to the concerned officers in recognition of the good work done by them,” Mr. Jayakumar said.

Stick for a few

At the same time Mr. Jayakumar comes out with punishment to personnel for dereliction of duty. Over 200 police personnel from the rank of constables to Inspectors across the district have been shifted from their present position to the Armed Reserve so far since Mr. Jayakumar assumed charge. There are also instances of two Inspectors of Police remaining in the AR for nearly six months in view of serious allegations against them in their present posts.

The police personnel are shifted to the AR for offences including connivance with sand mafia and bootleggers, receiving bribe and dereliction of duty. At the AR, the police personnel are deployed for escorting prisoners and bandobust.

Mr. Jayakumar says that he does not shift the police personnel found to be failing in their duty on his own. “An enquiry is conducted thoroughly into the allegations by the police personnel and if found true, the follow up action is taken against them. This initiative is only aimed at improving the quality of service and not to harass them,” he said.