Madang Police dedicate 2026 operations to Lord

Police in Madang dedicated their 2026 operations to God this week with a dedication mass at the Holy Spirit Catholic Cathedral.

Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Robert Baim said the mass was a change from the traditional parade that marks the commencement of police operations every year.

The special dedication mass was attended by all sectional heads, Chairman of Law and Order in the Madang Government, Dum Bal, and a handful of police families.

Mr Baim, in his remarks, spoke on the importance of putting God first in their duties.

"On behalf of the Police Commissioner, David Manning and the Royal PNG Constabulary, I, as head of police in the province, would like to thank you all for your attendance today despite the short notice. Law and Order is God's business," Baim said.

"Although we come from different church denominations, we serve only one God, and that is why we are here today to be dedicated to Him so that we are protected by the Blood of Jesus in our work.

"We must always put God first in our lives, our families next, and then our work. In that way, we won't go wrong."

The PPC also urged his officers to begin to have a shift in their mindset.

"Law and Order starts with you and me. It starts in the family. When we get our homes in order, our children in order, that's when law and order come in," Baim said. "If we don't get our homes and families in order, that's when our kids will go out, get involved with other children, commit crimes, and that's when law and order start.

"So before that law and order starts, you and me must fix our homes. Law and Order is everybody's business. It also involves the community."

He reiterated that a change in mindset by police officers can have a positive impact on the trend of law and order in the province.

Superintendent Baim said; "You and I must change. We must make a big change, a shift in our mindset in order to address law and order in the province.

"You and I are witnessing a breakdown in law and order, and a shift in mindset is important so that when people see us, they will respect us, respect the guns we carry, and respect the vehicles we drive. We must win back the public's confidence, respect, and trust in the police force."

He also acknowledged the presence of a former senior police officer, Madam Cathy Dobb, at the dedication mass.

Madam Dobb was one of PNG's pioneer policewomen. She was also a former Police Station Commander [PSC] in Madang, the first female in the country to have been promoted to that position since Independence.