Taipei Military Police Commander Accused of Long-Term Bullying and Negligence

The commander of the Taipei Municipal Constabulary has been exposed for allegedly subjecting officers and soldiers to long-term verbal abuse and workplace bullying. The commander is also accused of failing to report multiple injury incidents within the unit in accordance with regulations, a situation that has recently drawn significant public attention. According to reports by the Central News Agency (CNA), the commander has been accused of repeatedly using insulting language to pressure subordinates, resulting in injuries to several personnel that were not promptly reported to senior officials or internal disciplinary bodies. In response, the Constabulary Command announced that to ensure the fairness and objectivity of the investigation, the commander has been removed from his current post and placed on a list of personnel awaiting investigation.

The Taipei Municipal Constabulary, also known as the Taipei Municipal Police Constabulary, is a specialized force established under the "Constabulary Act." Its primary responsibilities include maintaining major public safety within the city, assisting police agencies in handling emergencies, and providing military training and support. Since its establishment in 1949, the Constabulary has played a crucial role in public security and order in Taipei and is often viewed as a "militarized" unit within the police system. The organization maintains a strict structure, with rigorous internal discipline and codes of conduct; any violations are subject to internal investigation and disciplinary action. However, this incident reveals that even within such a stringent system, abuses of power and management failures can still exist within the organization.

According to reports, the commander used insulting language and even violent means to force subordinates to complete tasks during multiple training sessions and daily operations. Several officers and soldiers sought medical attention due to long-term humiliation and physical injuries. However, due to the lack of formal reporting procedures, these injuries and illnesses were not recorded in the unit's medical files and did not attract the attention of higher-level police agencies. More concerning is the fact that when dealing with injured personnel, the commander failed to provide necessary medical care or psychological counseling. Instead, he emphasized that personnel should bear the risks themselves, citing "endurance" and "resilience" as justifications. This behavior not only violates the "humanitarian care" principles stipulated in the "Constabulary Act" but also contravenes the police agencies' responsibility to safeguard the physical and mental health of their personnel.

In response to external pressure and internal whistleblowing, the Constabulary Command took swift action by removing the commander from his post and placing him on the list of personnel awaiting investigation. This move is intended not only to prevent the situation from deteriorating further but also to demonstrate the rigor of the internal disciplinary mechanism. The investigation will be conducted by the internal disciplinary committee of the Constabulary, with independent third-party supervisors invited to ensure that the process is free from internal influence. This decision also aligns with Taiwan's current policy direction of promoting police reform, strengthening police human rights, and enhancing transparency, reflecting the government's zero-tolerance attitude toward misconduct within the police force.

The occurrence of this incident has caused a severe crisis of confidence in the Taipei Municipal Constabulary and has prompted society to re-examine the internal oversight mechanisms of the police system. In recent years, attention to police violence and abuse of power has intensified in Taiwanese society, with many civil groups and scholars calling for strengthened internal supervision and external reviews of police conduct. The outcome of this investigation will serve as a key reference for evaluating whether the internal governance and disciplinary mechanisms of the Taipei Municipal Constabulary are robust, and it may also have a demonstrative effect on the reform process of police agencies nationwide. If the investigation reveals systemic issues, relevant departments will be compelled to re-examine the Constabulary's organizational structure, training methods, and disciplinary systems to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

In summary, the allegations against the Taipei Municipal Constabulary commander for long-term verbal abuse and workplace bullying highlight that abuses of power and management failures can persist even within strictly disciplined, militarized units. The Constabulary Command's immediate removal of the officer-in-charge and initiation of an investigation demonstrate the rigor of the internal disciplinary mechanism and the importance placed on public trust. This incident will have a profound impact on police reform and oversight mechanisms in Taiwan, and it serves as a reminder to all police units that they must continuously review and improve their internal governance to ensure the rights of personnel and social justice. (Source: Central News Agency)