Fiji’s Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho has welcomed news of the resumption of specialised training for its K9 unit officers in New Zealand.
The continuation of the initiative under the Fiji Police Partnership Programme (FPPP) comes following a meeting between Brig-Gen Qiliho, New Zealand Police National Dog Manager Inspector Todd Southall, FPPP Senior Advisor General Patrol Dogs Wally Kopae, and New Zealand FPPP Advisory Team Leader Inspector Paris Razos at the Fiji Police Headquarters in Suva.
The visiting team held meetings with officers based at the K9 Unit as well as conducted site visitations at K9 bases in the central and western division.
Southall said as well as the training opportunities opening up in New Zealand, Kopae will be spending time in Fiji working with the K9 Unit later in the year.
Discussions not only focused on immediate training needs but succession planning as far as leadership and the retention of specialized skilled K9 officers and the replacement of K9 Dogs from NZ.
Meanwhile a meeting with the NZ Police’s Strategy and Planning Office will be held next month to discuss the way forward under New Zealand and FPP Programme.
