Serious questions arose after a video was posted on social media by PPP official Harry Gill showing a Tactical Services Unit (TSU) rank, who was stationed at his home as security, sleeping. Though the intention of the video was to humiliate the man, the facts surrounding the incident have caused much concern in the public.
It is reported that the TSU rank was on duty for 20 hours at the time the incident happened. TSU ranks armed with assault rifles must remain alert when on the job, but it is clearly impossible for ranks to remain alert after being on shift for 20 hours. It is reported that the rank in question claims to have requested relief late into his shift but did not receive any.
It is questionable if a low-ranked public official such as Harry Gill is even entitled to armed security at the expense of the state. Another question that arose because of the posted video is if there are staff shortages that forced the TSU rank to be on duty for 20 hours continuously. Such shortages might be caused by the PPP sending these ranks to guard many of its party members in low-ranked public offices.
Why is a member of the TSU performing the duties of a watchman? Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton claimed that “The severely understaffed TSC is being stretched thin. They are now left exhausted and demoralized.”
The level of human resource mismanagement displayed by the GPF is cause for concern. How rampant are such examples of mismanagement and how often do armed officers, naturally, fall asleep after being on duty for 20+ hours?
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