City needs 100 cops for Christmas - chief

City Police acting director Melvin Gayotin yesterday requested for at least 100 policemen from the regional headquarters to augment his forces to combat crimes in the city during the Christmas season.

The regional police command might not be able to meet the requested policemen because other offices in the provinces also need more men, Gayotin said adding that it is up to regional officials how many policemen would be sent to the City Police.

Last year, there was no problem in meeting with augmentation needs because police recruits from the Regional Training School were detailed to various police stations as part of their 2-month actual training on urban warfare.

But this time however, the recruits have yet to complete their 4-month studies at the training center before they could be deployed for field work apprenticeship.

Gayotin said the city needs additional policemen during the holidays, especially that robberies and snatching are expected to rise at these times.

These additional policemen would be distributed to the various beat patrol sections of the 11 police stations of the City Police to secure crime prone areas in the city.

Gayotin also announced that the planned beat patrol sections would be created before the Yuletide season to help in countering crime incidents in the city. The city government is still processing the procurement of the needed equipment, like radio communications and vehicles, for these sections.

Under the plan, every beat patrol section from police stations would be recalled and stationed at the City Police office to take in the centralized operations.