• A fmr. IGP/NPC Chair & pvt. attorneys call for pre-recruitment screening of mental health & provision of knowledge & institutional progs. on same 
• Civilians urge for fairness on the part of cops while Police officers emphasise need for supportive work environment 

The recent death of a Police Constable (PC) attached to the Karandugala Police Station in Monaragala, who took his own life after murdering a fellow officer and two other females, allegedly using his service weapon, has cast a stark spotlight on the mental wellbeing of Police officers. 

This incident, along with other recent cases of Police officers ending their own lives using their service weapons, and elsewhere, committing acts of misconduct, has sparked an urgent conversation about the emotional and psychological toll of Police work.

Four individuals, including two PCs attached to the Karandugala Police Station, a 54-year-old female, and her 17-year-old daughter, have been killed in separate but related shooting incidents in Monaragala, Namal-Oya, and Inginiyagala on 4 August. Early that morning, a 33-year-old PC was shot dead at his home in Namal-Oya by an unknown assailant. Later, the female in question and her daughter were found shot dead in Inginiyagala. The same day, another PC from the same Police station took his own life using his service weapon, after which it came to light that he was responsible for all three previous shootings.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and National Police Commission (NPC) Chairperson Chandra Fernando said that the mental wellbeing of Police officers plays a crucial role within the Police force, noting that they deal with people of various mental states, from ordinary citizens to drug dealers and organised criminal gang members. Given the diverse and often challenging nature of these interactions, he said that it is essential for Police officers maintaining law and order to be at an optimal level of mental health. 

“A Police officer cannot afford to surrender to emotions; they must be mentally strong enough to handle it all. This is recognised in every country, which is why medical clinics and counselling facilities have been established within police forces globally.” 

Another key point raised by Fernando is the necessity for Police officers involved in recruitment-related duties to be in a good state of mind themselves. “Recruitment without proper screening leads to various issues. People who are frequently angry, often melancholic, or are easily shocked are not suitable for the Police. There is a medical examination at the time of recruitment. There, the candidates’ mental health status must be assessed by a medical officer with specialised knowledge to assess mental health. Without this, the medical test is pointless. It should not just be about checking blood samples and the width of the chest, etc.” 

Emphasising that the Police Department is not merely a job offering agency, Fernando said that recruiting Police officers should not be done like it is in other institutions. He also highlighted the importance of rejecting individuals with significant egoistic issues during the recruitment process. “People with egoistic attitudes do not fit in the Police; they struggle to perform Police work effectively and should be rejected during recruitment itself.”

When queried regarding existing measures to improve the mental health of Police officers, he said: “There is a weekly instructional class by the relevant officer-in-charge (OIC), and once a month, there is another class conducted by the relevant Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs). My view is that mental health should be included as one of their subjects. Police Hospitals in Narahenpita and Kandy should have good psychiatrists, and appropriate programmes should be developed in consultation with them to address Police officers' mental health problems.”

He further emphasised the dangers of allowing individuals within the Police force with a declined mental health to use firearms. “How can impulsive individuals be permitted to use firearms? You cannot give a firearm to someone who cannot control themselves, can you? Higher officials must recognise this issue. There are certain Police officers who can’t be deployed on the road because doing so poses a problem as they always tend to do something wrong. Such individuals exist in every Police station. They should be identified and referred to the Police hospitals. It is the duty of the relevant OICs and other officers.” Noting that he, during his tenure at the NPC, collaborated extensively with academics on this issue, Fernando said that such programmes should continue.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners' (CPRP) President, attorney Senaka Perera said that maintaining optimal mental and physical health in the Police force is vital, emphasising that these aspects should be attended to not just at the point of recruitment but also for maintaining an efficient Police service. He asserted that if a Police officer is suffering from mental distress due to personal or professional issues, it is not possible to expect a proper service from them, as such issues invariably affect their duties. For instance, he said that there have been cases where individuals in Police custody were assaulted by Police officers who had earlier had altercations with their wives at home.

“For Police officers, mental health is more crucial than in any other institution. They wield considerable discretion, making life and death decisions such as whether to use their firearms or not. They operate in an environment where there is a wide range of choices, where a wrong decision can result in the loss of someone's life. While it is important for everyone, it is even more vital for Police officers to maintain optimal mental health. However, we have not seen sufficient programmes at the institutional level aimed at addressing the mental health needs of Police officers.”

Perera, referring to the recent incident where the wife of the Police officer – who shot another Police officer and two females to death, and later took his own life using the official weapon – claimed that all the issues within the Police station where he was attached to, were being blamed on her husband. He noted that this reflects the issue within the Police force, where higher-ranking officers often work in the interest of politicians or other influential persons. When things go wrong, he said that the blame is frequently placed on lower-ranking officers causing significant distress to them.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, a resident of the Rakwana Police Division in the Ratnapura District, Palitha Wijeratne shared his experience at the Rakwana Police Station last year (2023), adding that maintaining optimal mental health for Police officers can save significant time, money, and effort for both the public and the Government. 

“In September, 2023, I went to the Rakwana Police Station to resolve a land dispute. A Chief Inspector of Police (CI) handled the investigation. He was clearly biassed towards the other party and didn't even allow me to speak. I then lodged complaints with the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office in Ratnapura, the Police Headquarters, and the NPC. It wasn't until the conclusion of these complaints that our issue was addressed, and the relevant Police officer admitted his mistake,” he explained. 

Pointing out that the land dispute could have been fairly investigated and resolved at the outset, he claimed that the Police officer's failure to do so resulted in unnecessary expenditure of his money, time, and effort, as well as that of Government officials. “I'm not saying that the Police officer in question had a mental health-related issue, but, if he had listened to both sides fairly from the beginning, the problem could have been resolved right then and there.”

A Police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, shared his perspective on the importance of optimal mental health within the force. Explaining the impact of both the work environment and personal issues on mental health, he stressed the necessity of a supportive team and healthy environment within the Police station where they serve and among high-ranking officials. 

“Without sufficient support, officers face unnecessary pressure, which deteriorates their mental health and, consequently, their physical health. Many officers work beyond their daily duty hours, some even up to 15 hours a day, which prevents them from going home and leads to significant stress. Unmarried officers in particular, cannot return home in the evenings, increasing their pressure and causing them to miss important family moments. Many officers are stationed far from home, increasing the gravity of the issue,” he said. 

With the implementation of downsizing programmes for public servants, he claimed that some Police officers hesitate to report their health-related issues due to fear of being deemed unfit for duty and consequently removed from service, even if there are programmes to help them improve their health. According to him, such removals come with different benefits compared to the normal retirement privileges, creating further reluctance among Police officers to seek help.

Commenting on the matter, attorney Thineth Korasagalla said that the Police officers' mental wellbeing is essential for making rational and fair decisions during investigations. Adding that mental clarity enables officers to analyse complex situations and develop appropriate solutions, which he said is crucial for handling cases involving intricate evidence like deoxyribonucleic acid and fingerprints, he said that officers without sound mind risk allowing real culprits to escape due to investigative loopholes. 

“In criminal investigations, proving elements like the actus reus, the mens rea, and the identity of the accused beyond reasonable doubt requires precise and accurate investigations, which demand a sound mind. When it comes to Police officers, their family and official life must be kept separate as they are responsible for guaranteeing the security of everyone.”

Attempts to contact the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, under whose purview the Police Department comes, proved futile.

In consideration of the above matters, it becomes evident that improving mental health support and creating a more supportive work environment for Police officers are of significant importance. A concerted effort towards improving their mental well-being, will ensure that they can perform their duty of safeguarding others while safeguarding themselves.