Old Ningo, Aug. 02, GNA - The Director-General in-charge of Police Operation at the Police Headquarters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Patrick Timbillah has cautioned civilians to desist from attacking police personnel in the discharge of their duties. DCOP Timbillah said pulling of offensive objects on the police during the discharge of their professional duties endangers the life of personnel noting that Ghana has lost a number of security officers through such incidents.

The DCOP issued the warning during an interaction with the press on Saturday at Old Ningo in the Dangme West District during the funeral rites of the late Chief Superintendent Theophilus Tetteh Nartey, 45, the Ho Municipal Police Commander who was shot at the residence of the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi on June 02.

He died two days later from the gun shot wounds and his mortal remains were led to rest at the Old Ningo cemetery.

The deceased sustained gunshot wounds in his abdomen during a struggle with one Dzikunu Dan Agbale who was alleged to have attacked relatives of the Regional Minister with knife and hammer after policemen on guard the residence tried to prevent him from entering the house. While the assailant died on the same day from gunshots by the police demobilizing him, Chief Supt. Nartey died at the 37 Military Hospital on June 04 after he was transferred there from the Volta Regional Hospital on June 03.

He left behind a wife and four children, comprising of three girls and one boy.

DCOP Timbillah however, expressed the police preparedness to continue providing adequate protection to public and called for their support for success.

DCOP John Kudalor, Tema Regional Police Commander reading the police tribute said Chief Nartey entered the Police Service in 1988 as a Constable, rose through the ranks and became the Ho Municipal Commander six months before his death, he was promoted to Chief Superintendent on July 30 after his death.

The Chaplain of the Police Church, Accra, Rev. Supt Twum Baah, who conducted the burial service challenged the security personnel and civilians to commit their lives to impacting positively on the lives of other people.

He said "the value of ones life is not the number of years an individual spent on earth, but the impact he made on others," adding that police personnel must discharge their duties professionally even when they were being ridiculed by society. In attendance were the Inspector General of Police, Patrick K. Acheampong, Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Bernard Dery, top Police Officials, over 500 police personnel, MP for Ningo-Prampram Constituency and District Chief Executives of Ho and Dangme West. The Volta Regional Minster however could to attend funeral.