Police Commissioner, Fuiavaili'ili Egon Keil, has thanked the public for being patient with Police officers as they go about their duties in good and bad weather.

Police traffic officers have been taken to the roads in and around Apia over the last week, often standing in heavy downpour to assist motorists, such as the Pesega traffic lights where blocked drainage has resulted in the road remaining flooded.

 Fuiavaili'ili, when approached by Samoa Observer to comment on the work of his Policemen and women, said it was their duty to work regardless of the weather.

"No matter what kind of weather we will still continue to work and do what we are called to do,” he said. "Our force are not only stationed at the Pesega intersection, but they are also stationed at different parts of Samoa like the Courthouse, to make sure every Court case is not gonna cause any commotion or anything.”

Bad weather has made working conditions a major challenge for Police traffic officers, who often return to their office soaking wet, and needing dry uniforms and shoes.

Some police officers have been “shoe-less”, added the Police Commissioner, due to heavy rain in the last three weeks.

"Some of the police officers would be shoe-less, while doing their duties in the past few weeks because of the heavy rainfall, I would go around to see my people and to see if there's anything I can do for them.”

But the challenges of working in bad weather is not the only occupational hazard facing Policemen and women with Fuiavaili'ili revealing that they also face threats posed by reckless drivers. 

"One day, our officers would come in and report to me what happened at the area they were working at, some say that they almost got run over by a car and some say that they have people shouting at them," he added.

Nonetheless, the Police Commissioner said he continues to be thankful for the patience shown by members of the public. 

"Thank you to the people of Samoa for their patience, the challenge for us is that there are so many vehicles but not so many roads, and with the detour at Matautu it's a lot of work. But I am grateful to my officers for doing a good job with the control of traffic," he said.