“Looking back after 37 years of service in the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is such a humble but proud moment for me. I feel that I have done my part and I have contributed to the security, policing and governance of the organization and my country,” says Superintendent Paul Bulu who retired from the RSIPF on 18 October 2018.
“Today is my final day in this uniform that was my life for the last 37 years,” he says as he glanced at his sky blue Police uniform.
“I can vividly remember coming into the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) as a recruit on Sunday 3rd January 1981 at the age of 19, eager to be a Police officer.”
He adds: “I joined the recruit of 57 male and no female. During that time, the Police Academy was called ‘Police Training School’. Then I was posted to Kukum Training Centre where we dealt with investigations, traffic duties, administration duties and so forth during my probationary period.”
After spending 18 months as a probationer, Mr. Bulu was posted to the then Police Field Force where he served for five years. Then he was posted to Auki in Malaita Province where he served for 13 years as a criminal investigator.
“During my time as a Police officer I was posted to various units and divisions within the RSIPF but the longest I served was in investigations.”
When asked about the challenges he faced Mr Bulu says, “My greatest challenge as a police officer was that I always left home very early and returned home late. Most of my time was spent away from my family. That was a challenge for me and my family. I also faced physical challenges in my work. Being a police officer is not easy.”
So what were some of the highlights of his career?
“Well, I recall that during my time as an investigator in Auki, I headed investigations into 10 homicide cases all of which were prosecuted resulting in imprisonment. During that time I was only a Police constable and then I was promoted to sergeant rank,” says Mr Bulu.
“Before I go home I would like to say to young Police officers: being a Police officer will always be challenging. But we are here to serve our people, our communities and our nation as a whole."
“Discipline is the only way we can serve with loyalty and dignity and trust in order to be an independent police officer. And as the saying goes ‘obedience is better than sacrifice’. God bless RSIPF,” says Mr. Bulu.
Superintendent Bulu spent the last years of his career as the RSIPF Tribunal Officer. He retired at the age of 55 at the rank of Superintendent. He is one of 10 officers who retired from the RSIPF on 18 October 2018.