Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) are mourning the loss of colleague officer Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Roland Lapo who passed away suddenly at Taro in Choiseul Province on 29 August 2018.
The late Lapo was serving at the Taro Police Station when he died while on training with his fellow officers. He suffered a suspected heart attack and was taken to medical attention by his fellow officers but passed away.
“The late Staff Sergeant Rolland Lapo was recruited into the RSIPF in 1982 and died while serving as Operation Manager at the Taro Police Station,” says Police Commissioner Matthew Varley.
Commissioner Varley says, “Late SSgt Lapo served the RSIPF for 36 years and was posted at various police stations. He held several positions during his time including Officer in Charge and Supervising Provincial Police Commander at the Taro Police Station in the absence of a provincial police commander.”
Commissioner Varley adds: “Late SSgt Lapo was a dedicated and hardworking officer and mostly spent his time serving the people of Western and Choiseul Provinces. It is indeed a loss for the organisation as well as officers who worked along with him during his career.
“On behalf of the RSIPF Executives Ranks and files, I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the family members, relatives and friends at this time of bereavement. He has left us but his good work will always be remembered in the organisation,” says Commissioner Varley.
Commissioner Varley and other members of his Executive as well as officers from the Police Headquarters in Honiara flew to Taro to join in the arrangements for the funeral of the late SSgt Lapo before his body was repatriated to his village in South Choiseul.