The reported promotion of Lucinda N. Dick, a police officer attached to the Daru Police Division, to the rank of Sub-Inspector has renewed public discussion about career progression within the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), following controversy over a resignation letter attributed to her after 23 years of service without promotion.
The letter, which reportedly takes effect on October 15, 2026, went viral on social media after Dick expressed disappointment over spending more than two decades in the Force without advancement in rank.
In the letter, she reflected on the values of discipline, professionalism and public service that had shaped her years in the Force. She also requested payment of her entitlements and permission to hand over police property as part of the resignation process.
Her case has since drawn public attention to concerns about career advancement, recognition and the treatment of long-serving police officers, particularly those serving in challenging policing environments such as Daru in eastern Sierra Leone.
However, the Head of Media at the Sierra Leone Police, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohamed Bobson Senu, had earlier questioned the authenticity of the resignation letter, stating that the personal identification number quoted in the document did not exist within the Force.
ASP Senu also explained that promotions within the SLP are not determined solely by years of service but depend on established criteria, supervisors’ recommendations and officers’ productivity.
Dick’s reported promotion has added a new dimension to the discussion, prompting further interest in the circumstances surrounding her case and the procedures used to determine promotions within the Force.
The development has also renewed questions about how the SLP assesses the career progression of officers who spend decades in service without advancement and whether such cases warrant closer review.