The Commissioner of Police (CP), Hillary Sao Kanu, has over 30 years of experience at national, regional, and international levels, having joined the Sierra Leone Police Force in July 1992. Prior to her appointment, she was the Director of Support Services at the Sierra Leone Police Headquarters. She previously served in UNAMID, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur, Sudan.
She has also served in various capacities in the Sierra Leone Police, including as an Instructor at the Police Training School, the Head of Media and Public Relations Unit, and as a Support Officer and Local Unit Commander.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Fourah Bay College at the University of Sierra Leone and is currently pursuing a higher degree for a Master of Philosophy in Sociology (M.Phil.) at the same institution.
Her other qualifications include a Post Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice and Police Management from Leicester University, United Kingdom; Higher Teachers Certificate from the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, Goderich Campus, Freetown, and a Diploma in office Administration and Computer Studies from the Kissy Computer Training Institute, now (IAMTECH), in Sierra Leone.
She has participated in several professional training programmes, including a Strategic Leadership and Command course (Abuja, Nigeria); United Nations Senior Mission Leaders course (Seoul, Korea); Collaborative Police Course (Accra Ghana); Female Senior Police Officer Command Development Course (Malaysia); International Public Order Silver Command Training Course; UNAMID Police Pre-Deployment Training and Police Operations and Anti-Riot course in Cairo, Egypt.