A 43-year-old mother, of Tiavi, has expressed concerns about the conduct of Police officers in front of her family and children.
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Silafaga Tupito’s property was raided two weeks ago where the Police found marijuana.
Mrs. Tupito’s husband, Atina Okesene, was taken in for questioning and is being detained.
But the mother and her children received an unexpected visit from the officers last Friday.
This time, she said they were armed.
Mrs. Tupito said she understands that the Police have a role to play and that they were merely doing their jobs.
But she questioned the need to be armed, especially around young children.
“My children are very young and yet they saw the officers being armed coming to our house as if we are murderers and criminals,” she said.
“I am scared to go back home because police might come again to search our place.
“During their first raid, they did find marijuana. But when they came the second time, they didn’t find anything. After the raid, one of the police officers came to me and thanked me and said they didn’t find anything.”
Mrs. Tupito said she was shocked that morning when her 4-year-old daughter ran to her screaming “Mommy police are coming with guns.”
Mrs. Tupito said she was at home with a friend from Tapatapao who came with her husband to visit them after they found that they were on their own.
“It was 6.30am,” she said. “This is the first time I have ever seen a real gun, I only see it in the movies.”
She said up to seven vehicles pulled up at her home. Some officers were in uniform while others were in civilian clothes.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for police officers to be armed while children are around, especially as young as my children.
“Not only that but they came twice to our house. Once is enough but twice with guns is not fair.”
Asked for a comment, Police Commissioner, Egon Keil, said the second visit was necessary because the Police was tipped off that there was a marijuana patch at the property.
“We found the patch but everything had been pulled,” he said. “There were empty ammos that were found.”
Commissioner Keil also confirmed that the Police officers were armed but he said they would never point a gun towards a child or in the presence of a child.
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