Loraini Seru, the former head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), where she will lead the Internal Affairs and Professional Standards Unit. This notable advancement was announced by Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu, who confirmed it followed recommendations from a carefully selected promotion board comprising both internal and external members to ensure a fair, merit-based process.
Commissioner Tudravu praised this achievement, emphasizing that Seru is the first female officer to attain the title of Assistant Commissioner. He expressed hope that her rise through the ranks would inspire not only female officers within the police force but also young girls considering future careers in law enforcement. The Commissioner highlighted existing policies aimed at supporting women in the police environment but stressed the importance of maintaining meritocracy in promotions, encouraging female officers to capitalize on the opportunities available to them.
Seru, originally from Tonia village in Tailevu with maternal connections to Rewasa in Rakiraki, has an impressive career in policing that commenced in 1995. She served in both the Western and Central Divisions before taking a position at the CID Headquarters in Toorak. Notably, she was the first officer to be seconded to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) from 2006 to 2010 and participated in a two-year mission in Liberia. In recognition of her contributions, she was appointed Deputy Chair of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Women Advisory Network in 2020 and received the Policewoman of the Year award at the 2022 Fiji Police Women Excellence Awards.
Beyond her policing career, Seru has boosted her professional credentials with certifications from the Australian Institute of Police Management in Sydney and specialized training in Anti-Money Laundering and Fraud in both Korea and New Zealand. She passionately encourages her fellow women officers to venture into traditionally male-dominated areas of the force, promoting the wealth of opportunities that the Fiji Police Force offers to aspiring female officers.
This appointment of ACP Seru marks a significant step forward not only for her career but also for gender representation within law enforcement in Fiji, symbolizing a hopeful trend towards greater inclusivity and leadership roles for women in the field.