Wednesday, January 16, 2008 MCPO operates with 11 cars, expects 12 brand new ones
THE Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) has no need for more service vehicles.
It already has 11 vehicles—six existing vehicles plus four Toyota Revos recalled from city department heads and a service van taken from the City Council—with 12 more motorcycles coming.
MCPO Acting Director Rodel Calungsud said 10 to 12 vehicles is an ideal number to address the mobility needs of a local police.
The vehicles are distributed as such: the three stations handling highly populated areas each have their own patrol car, while the six other vehicles are assigned to the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG). One vehicle is on standby at the city police office and the van is assigned to the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat).
All stations will also get two new motorcycles each that operatives can use to respond to minor alarms, Calungsud said. These are in addition to the command’s four motorcycles already in use.
The MPG and the Swat will respond to “high-risk” alarms, he added.
Earlier, Mayor Jonas Cortes said he has no plans to add more vehicles to the police since they already have enough.
The mayor said he might suspend the P1,000 incentive pay the City gives to each policeman if they continue to blame lack of mobility for their failure to maintain peace and order.
Last Jan. 6, a policeman was killed and his companion seriously injured when three fleeing robbers shot them.
Initial reports cited the police’s lack of mobility as one of the force’s handicaps, but ranking police officials also saw the need for “refreshers” and training in marksmanships and on how to properly respond to alarms. (OCP)
