Bengaluru: The City’s police department has informed that officers who are found to be drunk while on duty will be sent for treatment to Mangaluru’s KS Hegde Charitable Hospital in batches of 8 to10.
The Administrative division has requested that police officials submit a list of such officers. They would be escorted to a de-addiction centre under the supervision of a PSI or ASI level officer. According to police sources, the treatment would take 10 days.
According to sources, after the treatment programme is completed, the police officers will be required to attend monthly personal counselling sessions to monitor and prevent relapse.
In the last month alone, around 26 police officers have returned to work after receiving treatment.
According to Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, the initiative is a move towards ‘citizen-friendly policing.’ He noted that it is a continuous process aimed at reforming police officers who are suffering from alcoholism. This humane move also comes in the wake of complaints from citizens about drunk policemen, while the police officials say health problems, and domestic clashes along with demanding work pushes them towards addiction.