Hard work and commitment has paid off for close to 50 newly recruited officers for the Samoa Police Prison and Corrections Service with a 23-year-old woman taking top honours in that class. 

Constable Dorothy Lotu Seumanutafa of Eva, Vaitoomuli Palauli was the Top Student for outstanding academic achievement in the second recruit class for 2023. 

Ms. Seumanutafa aspires to be a lawyer and aims to be a lead prosecutor in the Ministry of Police. She was amongst 48 new recruits that graduated in a ceremony held at the EFKS Tupulaga Hall on Wednesday. 

Other new recruits that received special prizes included Student’s Choice that went to Constable Peter Schuster, Most Discipline was Constable Seburina Agaalofa Steve and Best All Rounder was Constable Fa’aloua Fa’alalo. 

The top student dedicated her achievement to her mother Simalua Lotu Seumanutafa who passed away in 2020 from cancer. Her father is Lotu Seumanutafa and she is the youngest of four children. 

She said she always wanted to be a lawyer and given the career path she has taken, she hopes to be a prosecutor. 

She attended the Falefa Primary School then later went to St. Peters before finishing her studies at Maluafou College. 

After graduating from the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) foundation she decided to apply in the police recruit programme. 

There were 81 applicants for the police recruit vacancies that was advertised and after assessment only 54 were selected to go through the 17 weeks of training. 

Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said from the 54 applicants who went through the training and tests, six had to withdraw due to overseas travel and other employment opportunities. 

Women dominated the new recruits who graduated. There were 31 women and only 17 were men. 

Auapaau said there are currently 923 police officers in the force which includes Corrections officers and unsworn officers and with the new recruits the total number would be 971. 

He added there is still a need for more recruits in the police force and the current number is not enough to serve the public. 

The Minister of Police, Faualo Harry Schuster delivered the keynote address and presented the special awards and certificate. 

Faualo congratulated the police officers reminding them that their families should be safe with them as should their villages, church and the general public.

He told the officers that their work is guided by the law and they should always follow the rule of law. 

The new recruits were sworn-in by District Court Judge, Talasa Atoa Saaga earlier this week and their training has been accredited by the Samoa Qualifications Authority.