Dear Editor

I wish to urge police officer Kate Harden to be more professional in her work than follow issues that are not related to her position despite being at the police spokesperson’s office.
Any reasonable person who reads her comments in your paper’s Monday edition of December 12th to 13th in the story captioned: “The Gambia police leaks, Fury at Police Headquarters Over a Daily Observer Editorial’’ would know that Kate Harden is not professional at all in her work.
In fact, her comments potentially tarnish the reputation of women at work places. Women are highly respected people in any society or any religion; be it Islam, Christianity, Buddhism or whatever since they are everything in a house.
I was very shocked and embarrassed when I read the following comments attributed to Kate in the said story: “These journalists are rude, they only want lies for their papers to sell.”
This is very unprofessional as a police officer. Infact why should she poke her nose in an issue that does not concern her.
According to The Daily News story, The Daily Observer newspaper editorial headlined: “The Unacceptable Attitude of Police PRO”, which prompted a furious reaction at police headquarters in Banjul was referring to police PRO Mballow for his “refusal to give to journalists information even when in the public interest.”
And it was Kate who brought PRO Mballow’s attention to the said editorial by asking the police PRO if he read the paper and the PRO replied to her that no he had not read the paper after which Kate read out the caption.
Clearly, the Daily Observer editorial criticises the PRO. Then what is your reason  or reasons of  asking the PRO whether to reply up to an extent of using improper  language by saying these journalists are rude.
Officer Kate, mine your language very well and arrange them to a suitable place were they are fit.  
We are all human beings bound to make mistake and we are all one family. Therefore using vulgar languages like a rat from a hole can create misunderstanding.
Did you forget what you learned from the Police Training School. The meaning of police - if I remember quite well is Polite Obedient, Loyalty, Intelligent, Competence and Efficiency?
The comments you made during your conversation with police PRO in order for him to react I think if  you make such efforts to curb crime since the time you are enlisted at The Gambia Police Force, the crime rate would have been drastically reduced.
The security of every citizens and non citizens lies in the hands of the security officers, and if that officers want to turn it to another way round then the security of civilians is in jeopardy.
Despite your relentless efforts to force the police PRO to react, Mr. Mballow remained professional. He in fact went up to an extent of saying that he would refer the matter to the relevant authorities to address the issue.
 This is also a clear indication that professionals in their work should act like that. This should teach you a lesson and not to behave arrogantly.
 The office you are today doesn’t belong to you alone. You are there to make sure that things go in accordance with the law.
This is why we have the three arms of Government in The Gambia: Executive, Legislature and Judiciary
Each of these branches has a distinct and essential role in the functioning of the government.
The Gambia Police Force have high standard of professionalism. They have a good relationship with the media. Moreover, records are there that the entire police force should be commended. What they are doing here in the country and beyond like in Darfur, Liberia, Estimo,and other war regions as peace keepers is an ultimate sacrifice.
Officer Kate, I also want to refer you to the National Anthem of The Gambia which I don’t know whether you even understand that well.
 “For The Gambia, Our Homeland,
We strive and work and pray
That all may live in unity,
Freedom and peace each day.
Let justice guide our actions
Towards the Common good,
And join our diverse peoples
To prove mans brotherhood
We pledge our firm allegiance,
Our promise we renew,
Keep us, great God of Nations
To The Gambia ever true.’’
This tells you that Gambia is a peace loving country. Therefore we should not incite trouble. We all know the stand of The Daily Observer in terms of maintaining peace and their commitment to national development since the time of Kenneth Best and up to date.
Therefore if such an incident happened we should try and negotiate it amicably rather than make inciteful comments.
Again, I am urging you to be more professional and discuss more with your senior officers to inculcate in you police procedures and duties to avoid any misunderstanding.
“These journalists are rude” as you allegedly indicated in your comments in The Daily News. You should apologise to the entire media fraternity for your that wrong comments.
I reserved myself and await your apology.