A renewed sense of purpose and unity marked the return of police reservists to active service across the National Capital District (NCD) and Central Province on Sunday, as over a hundred officers gathered at the Saraga Police Post in a show of commitment.
The event, led by newly appointed Reservist Program Coordinator Chief Inspector Ruben Giusu, signaled a fresh chapter for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC)’s reservist network—once a vital force in community policing.
Among the distinguished guests were Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for NCD/Central Benjamin Turi and ACP Southern Command Joseph Puri, both of whom expressed full backing for the revitalized reservist initiative.
Many attending reservists were long-serving veterans, now leaders in politics, business, and the judiciary.
ACP Turi praised the strong turnout, noting, “Now they have a coordinator and an office space. They can report directly and work with police station commanders and regular officers to maintain law and order in our communities.”
He commended past contributions of reservists, including securing convictions in high-profile cases, and urged current and returning officers to uphold those standards.
ACP Puri, whose jurisdiction borders the NCD/Central Command, echoed the sentiment, stating the increasing number of inter-provincial roads demands greater manpower and cross-command coordination.
Chief Inspector Giusu urged all trained reservists to report in for record updates and streamlined deployment, reinforcing their continued role within the RPNGC.
“There is much to do to bring back all trained reservists. They are still part of the RPNGC and have sworn an oath to wear the uniform,” Giusu said.
Saraga Police Post has now been officially designated the central coordination hub for reservist operations in the NCD and Central regions.
Adding historical significance, veteran reservists at the gathering highlighted that June 21, 1984, marked the formation of the first reservist unit—making the event exactly 41 years since the program’s inception.
They proudly noted that current national leaders—including Deputy Prime Minister and Lae MP John Rosso and former Police Minister Bryan Kramer—once served as reservists.
“We are ready to return and serve,” said a senior reservist spokesperson, while also calling on young officers to respect the integrity of the uniform.
“Even though they are outside [the regular force], they’re still part of the team. The negative actions of some officers, when made public, damage the reputation of all who wear the name tag ‘Police Reservist.’”
Meanwhile, ACP Turi formally handed over a newly branded police vehicle to the reservist unit.
The vehicle, initially donated by Kumul Petroleum Holdings to the Gereka Police Post earlier this year, now bears official police insignia and registration and will be used to support operational duties.