Lapaz shooting: Police to probe cop apathy

The Ghana Police Service has stated it will investigate claims that some police officers looked on as two armed robbers killed a cop and wounded another as they made away with their booty during a heist at Lapaz, Accra, on Thursday July 13.

Some eyewitnesses have claimed that some police on guard duties at a nearby microfinance institution failed to go to the rescue of their colleagues who were shot as they pursued the robbers.

But in an interview on Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM, ASP Effia Tenge, Accra Police PRO, told host Chief Jerry Forson that that allegation would be considered as part of the enquiry into the whole matter.

“We are receiving a lot of information. …But until we get all those people, including even going to the extent of finding out who was on duty, what happened and all, until we establish that, we can’t confirm there were any police officers on duty. But in our briefings and profession, there have been several instances a police officer on duty has left his post to help with a situation nearby. So it is something that we can all do. As to assertions that there were policemen present but failed to respond, those ones are subject to police confirmation,” she said.

The shooting occurred on Thursday around 1:20pm when the officers were on their routine motorbike patrols at Lapaz in the Greater Accra Region.

“Unfortunately, one of the police personnel passed on while receiving treatment but the second is in a stable condition,” a press release signed by Accra Regional Police PRO Effia Tenge stated.

To facilitate their movement, the assailants abandoned their motorbike, snatched an unregistered ash Hyundai Elantra saloon vehicle and sped off in the direction of Mallam junction.

The police have urged the public, especially Lapaz residents, to remain calm as they intensify efforts to arrest the perpetrators of the crime.

They are urging the public to volunteer useful information to police numbers 18555, 0302787373, 0302773695 or 0302773906.