A top official in a state government department 'secured' the services of a policeman years ago for security. The official has since changed his job and location, but the policeman remains with him as personal security officer (PSO).
The PSO, who was a constable when he joined the official, is now a sub-inspector. He is reluctant to quit the PSO job, because that gives him access to almost any file in the department.
A constable attached to a political leader in Ernakulam is now a sub-inspector, but still sticks around with the same boss.
A cop on security duty with a retired judge received a notice for recall, but defied it. “Sir, you can help me stay for some more time,” the policeman told the retired judge. As the pressure mounted, the ex-judge himself called the police headquarters (PHQ) and demanded that the cop be allowed to stay with him. When the officer at the PHQ rejected the request, the judge revealed that it was the cop who was particular of his security duty.
Police personnel are provided for security duty to every inquiry commission that the government appoints. Such policemen are never returned to their original posts even after the inquiry. It is understood that two dozen policemen still serve such expired commissions.
Cafeteria duty
Ten constables and as many drivers have been provided as per rules to the state PHQ in Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram. However, over 250 policemen work there on different duties. Cops run a cafeteria. They also work as microphone operators, painters, errand boys to the treasury etc. Most of them are on work arrangement.
Only the director-general of police (DGP) is empowered to authorize work arrangement, but officers from the level of superintendents to inspectors-general do it. Most of the arrangements are done on oral directions. There are no written orders.
Majority of the over a dozen retired DGPs have two or three policemen as aides. A DGP who retired years ago has kept two cops as assistants. It is said that they were even made to dig up a well once.
Cops to buy plant pots
Policemen near stations in Mannuthy, where the Agricultural University is located, often get the special duty of buying some select saplings from nurseries in and around the town. These are to be send to top officers. The cops never get paid for such work. The order for them is to 'organize' the saplings from the nurseries using their clout as local cops.
The struggle of PROs
Public Relations Officers or PROs normally work to strengthen the communication and relationship between police and the public, and pass on information to the media promptly. However, it is alleged that the PROs at the police are being used to obtain anything from a bulb to a fridge free in the name of the SP office and supply it to second rank officers.
Most of these things are purchased on the pretext that they are for the SP's house or office. The PROs also get food from top hotels for officers and families and even their relatives.
There is the instance of an SP and family arriving at a hotel in Malabar soon after a PRO had taken away food for the same officer. The PRO lost his job and the SP paid for food that was taken in his name.
Policemen themselves say the PRO's job is often more pathetic than that of camp followers.
5% with VIPs
Five percent of the police force personnel are with the VIPs. The fact was revealed in a count taken at the PHQ. Most of them serve with political, religious and social leaders, apart from top cops in the name of security duty. The total number of policemen on law-and-order duty in the state is 40,567, of which 4,167 are women.
Leaders seek security in the name of threats that never exist and the tradition is that it is just granted without a second thought. Sixty percent of those who work with big guns have no experience in law-and-order duties.
