The Fiji Police Force held a special ceremony this weekend to honor the twenty-six members who passed away over the past year. Commemorations took place in Suva, Labasa, and Lautoka, bringing together the families of the fallen officers from the Central, Eastern, Southern, and Headquarters Divisions at the Nasova Police grounds.
Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew led the 2024 Remembrance Day, expressing mixed emotions about returning to the birthplace of many officers’ careers to remember their fallen colleagues. “It is on this ground that we marked the beginning of our careers, and today, we gather to remember our comrades who have left us and celebrate their memories that will live on forever,” he stated.
In a tribute to the families, the Acting Commissioner expressed gratitude for the sacrifices they made in allowing their loved ones to serve. He acknowledged the precious moments families missed due to their loved ones being on duty, saying, “Words and deeds will never be able to replace the countless missed birthdays, the missed milestones, as duty beckoned your loved ones away from home.”
As the Fiji Police Force approaches its 150th anniversary, scheduled for October 10th, 2024, the Acting Commissioner highlighted the organization’s journey through various phases in the nation’s history. He emphasized the importance of focusing on present challenges and learning from the past: “We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it, and commit, not to repeat the mistakes of the past.”
During the ceremony in Nasova, eighteen members of the organization who lost their lives in the past year were specifically honored.