By Sitta Turay
The leadership of the Sierra Leone Police is facing arguably one of the most tumultuous times in executing its constitutional mandate. The big picture is that the law enforcers are under ever-increasing pressure to re-examine their practices while trying to balance that off with a rapidly changing cultural, social and technological landscape. The emergence of social media has made it more difficult to evaluate the truth from hundreds of daily postings by different sets of people.
Nowadays, young Sierra Leoneans are massively entering the police force with new intentions and expectations completely different from sacrifice, selfless service to the nation ethos that should characterize policing everywhere. This batch of individuals is highly expectant over what it means to be a police officer - how it changes their economic status and how they want to be led. Most want to be close to senior ranks (especially the Inspector General) just to gain favor and be treated with preference. To their disappointment, the present IG’s service is typically based on performance. Police officers know very well that without distinguished performance, they will not be considered for any promotion or anything that places them in a leadership role.
There is a conservatory of thought that views leadership as a quality someone is born with, rather than one that can be learned through experience, education and mentorship. Gratefully for the Sierra Leone Police across the country, police leaders are finding out that the skills necessary to be effective in their roles are constantly developing and expanding because of the top man that is the Inspector General (IG). Policing, in its nature, is an evolving discipline that must grow and change with the times which is what Fayia Sellu is offering right now.
An international media group, Afriqueurope had this to say about Fayia, “IGP Sellu has academic and huge professional policing experience; having served for 11 years as Chief Security Officer during the administration of late President Ahmad Tejan Kabba. His admirable qualities as a good leader and professional police officer catapulted him to serve as head of the Presidential Guard in the early days of President Julius Maada Bio’s government.
Fayia Sellu would never be in that position today if he didn’t possess the requisite policing attributes including his academic status and dedication to duty.
Police leadership styles are the ways that police managers and supervisors guide and influence their subordinates. In the past, Police leadership style has been authoritative leadership: a strict, rules-based, and order-oriented style that exerts full control over the team and expects obedience. But Fayia Sellu has added a service leadership pattern.
I have been following the Sierra Leone Police for quite a long time now. I have even created a movement called “Police Watch” and that has given me an in-depth understanding of the Sierra Leone Police. After a long time, the model of leadership I have been seeing from this IG is quite satisfying. Commitment to service has been the pivotal style to Fayia Sellu.
Being a leader in any setting requires a certain degree of commitment to the job and the mission. To be a great leader is all about having an honest inclination and a true commitment to lead others to accomplish a common vision and goals through positive influence. That is what Fayia has been providing for the Sierra Leone Police since it pleased President Bio to appoint him as the Inspector General of police.
Fayia Sellu is a transformational leader that focuses on a “people-centered approach”. That approach aims to inspire, empower, and motivate the team he is working with. He is a leader that follows this approach and therefore works with subordinates to commit them to a shared vision and goals for the Police force by encouraging innovation and creativity in pursuit of those goals.
He is a transformational leader that is inclusive by considering each individual’s unique needs, skills, and motivations. He has an “open door” policy to facilitate open communication. No one is infallible, yes! And for that reason, there are some areas for improvement since he took over as the Police leader.
Areas that can be improved include the “traffic” department. The fact that traffic police officers have resorted to wearing aprons/flashers that totally changes the formal way for police officers to be seen in a uniform is a cause for concern. Most of these traffic officers are wearing these flashers just to hide their real identity.
It is also nearly becoming a norm for Police officers not to place their name tags on their left chest for the public to see. One of the ways to address that is to capacitate the Complaints, Discipline and Internal Investigation Department (CDIID) better than how it is right now. The CDIID must not be in regular police uniform for them to do their job properly. That is because they should be considered as another branch of detectives.
There are some other important but minute areas that should be improved but on a whole, Fayia Sellu is performing spectacularly well so far. The fact that Fayia leaves his office late and being one of the first persons to come to the office means he is a committed leader that has the urge to deliver to the people of Sierra Leone.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (06/03/24)
