Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema warned police and firefighters against bad conduct andtold them to clean up their image at a conference Tuesday attended by more than 150 firefighters and municipal, district and traffic police.
“I have received many complaints regarding the negative actions of firefighters. One hotel owner sent me a letter stating that it took firefighters one-and-a-half hours to arrive at the hotel after the call was placed,” Kep Chuktema said.
He said that two new fire stations in Meanchey district and Russei Keo district will be constructed to improve response times to fire emergencies on the city’s outskirts.
Kep Chuktema also told traffic police to stop setting up illegal checkpoints to extort money from drivers.
Instead, he said, they should educate drivers who violate traffic regulations.
The municipality plans after the Khmer New Year to hire 50 civilians to monitor illegal parking and 100 high school students to aid traffic police in educating drivers who abuse traffic regulations.
“We should use young people to educate older people who abuse traffic orders,” he said.
The governor also ordered traffic police to check vehicles for firearms and drugs, adding that he plans to impose fines for vehicles emitting excess exhaust fumes.
Addressing municipal and district police, Kep Chuktema said that firearms should not be used to settle minor conflicts.
He said that police have been known to use their weapons to threaten people, usually while consuming alcohol and dancing.
“It is unacceptable,” he said. “A few officials have committed such bad acts that it has affected all officials in the organization and the country’s reputation as well.”
