This firm takes circular route to nab good cops

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: For policemen fed up with long working hours, a poor salary and tyrannical bosses, there’s hope. The police commissionerate recently placed a message in an inter-departmental circular seeking personnel with detection and interrogation skills and knowledge of sophisticated weapons to work for a private firm. The message read, “Excellent re-employment opportunity of a lifetime,’’ and went on to state that shortlisted candidates could act as security personnel at exhibitions and events.

In case you are wondering why officials are helping an outside agency recruit policemen, here’s the catch. The department is helping its own retired personnel to find new jobs. The notice is merely being used to spread the word among former policemen about potential employment opportunities in the city.

The ad states that ‘age is no bar’ for the candidates and even retired personnel can apply. It appeared on September 25 in the daily notice, an intra-department circular informing personnel about new recruits and transfers.

Police commissioner A N Roy said, “Many retired policemen approach us for jobs and it becomes difficult to find good opportunities for them. Retired officers are generally not in touch with the department and this ad will help them to get details from serving policemen about the various jobs they are eligible for.’’

TOI contacted one of the two mobile numbers given in the circular, and spoke to an employee of the security firm. The man identified himself as ‘Mahindra’ but refused to disclose the name of his agency or its area of specialisation.He, however, confirmed that the agency had asked for people in the police circular.

“Our company will recruit enthusiastic candidates as per their skills. They will be given jobs as per their calibre. It’s neither a security agency nor a police job. Sometime the candidates will have to make surveys and prepare their reports on a given topic, issue or area,’’ Mahindra said.

He added that the firm’s identity and activities would be explained “when a candidate comes and discusses with us personally.’’

He said the firm would provide jobs especially to those who have retired from the department or are on the verge of retirement.

OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

The Times of India, October 4, 2006