Some 55 trainers of prosecuting officers/detectives ended a two-day seminar in Yaounde on February 19, 2016.
In order to meet new security threats and also harmonise training methods, 55 instructors mostly of the rank of Captain from the 11 Gendarmerie Legions in the country underwent a refresher course in Yaounde from February 18-19, 2016. The course held at the Gendarmerie Training Centre at Yeyap Barracks. Facilitators were military officers and a civilian magistrate.
The course was closed by the Commander of Gendarmerie Schools and Training Centres, Col. Bogmis Benjamin. Opening the seminar on February 18, 2016, Brigadier General Elokobi Daniel Njock, Director of Central Coordination at the National Gendarmerie Headquarters, restated the seriousness with which the High Command takes the training of prosecuting officers/detectives. In spite of lean resources at this time, the High Command decided to go ahead with the training, he pointed out. According to Brigadier General Elokobi, instructors need to become more competent in order to pass on knowledge that reassures members of the public.
“Prosecuting Officers are the eyes of the gendarmerie. In order for them to adequately protect people, their property and rights, they have to be well trained,” he explained. However, he noted that detective trainers are often blamed for awarding undeserved marks to course participants, late submission of marks to central authorities, favoritism, fraud, and not collaborating with magistrates who train detectives. Elokobi therefore called for a change in mentality among instructors.
“Proximity policing depends largely on detectives who are close to the people and must reassure them by their character. Government places so much hope in gendarme detectives in the fight against terrorism and other forms of insecurity to gather intelligence, conduct investigations and defend the nation. As a result, detectives need to receive continuous training adapted to new security threats,” the Director of Central Coordination at the National Gendarmerie Headquarters explained.
