Dolphin Squad to rework on its SOPs as part of image-building effort

Role and performance of specialised unit causes damage to reputations of department

LAHORE: In the wake of recent complaints of the misuse of authority by newly built Dolphin Squad with spending of billions of rupees, training workshops to promote a sense of community policing and professionalism have been initiated.

Few weeks backs Dolphin Squad officials had shot dead a woman in Nishter Colony. A few days after the incident, the officials were tortured during a clash with locals and alleged one-wheelers in Sanda. Video footage of Dolphin Squad personnel torturing a shopkeeper had also surfaced. The squad last year had shot a differently-abled person in Wahdat Colony. A teenage boy was killed when a stray bullet fired by a Dolphin Squad personnel hit him on Band Road.

The incidents had invited a lot of criticism on the behaviour and capacity of the squad. Taking into consideration the situation, Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz chaired a high-level meeting and issued orders to sensitise the force about SOPs regarding the use of authority.

The recent workshops in Lahore were in that context.

Superintendent of Police Dolphin Squad Bilal Zafar, in an exclusive meeting with The Express Tribune, said the timespan for each workshop was three days and these would be conducted at Lecture Hall Main Headquarters Dolphin Squad.

The number of participants will be 30 with a ratio of 20 Dolphin team leaders and 10 Police Response Unit (PRU) in-charges.

Zafar said problem-based learning was the gist of the refresher courses. Unfortunately, the officials were taught SOPs during training and were left to apply on their own in the field. He claimed for the first time in the history of Pakistan, they were applying already learnt knowledge for problem-solving in the fields.

“At least 40 mistakes were identified the squad had committed in the last three years. The mistakes will be dealt with as case studies during the workshops,” he said. “The practical scenarios will be created before the participants and they will be asked to apply SOPs they had been taught during training to deal these challenges, for example, the incident of death of a boy on Band Road.”

He said the officials would first be asked to identify the mistakes the team made keeping in view SOPs and proposing a plan that these mistakes do not occur.

Zafar said the objective behind the approach was to extract lessons from past mistakes for problem-solving, connect theoretical synopsis with field experience, developed the habit of application of mind among the officials and achieving a standard response. Zafar added that they would use a video clip to demonstrate how SOPs were followed worldwide.

Earlier, four random officials were picked and were sent for patrolling as a team. They have identified a team leader of the four members of a Dolphin Squad on the basis of performance and interviews. He said they were conducting psychological profiling of the officials. “Once done, the officials having rash behaviour would be called off from field duty,” he added. “The process had been initiated.”

The workshop would also include the concepts of roles of first responder, snap checking, role of team leader, scope and authority of team leader, professional ethics and character building, do’s and don’ts. A session for exchange of on job experiences has been specified. The pattern of conversational dialogue during snap checking, first response to the victim and telephonic communication would be taught and rehearsals would also be conducted.

Zafar said Dolphin Squad has responded to almost 107,726 Rescue 15 calls and rendered community service to almost 55,078 persons since its inception. However, the realisation of the concept behind raising this unit was still to be achieved despite adopting all possible means.

“The enhancement in the service delivery level and change in public perception are still demanding serious endeavours,” he remarked. He voiced hope that the exercise would definitely contribute to the betterment of this organisation.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2019.