IN ASSESSING POLICE WORK, PRESIDENT TO TAKE SOCIETY’S RESPONSE INTO ACCOUNT

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 16, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN. In assessing the work of the police,
the Armenian president Serge Sargsian will take into account the
response of the society rather than the summary reports of the police,
the president warned during the June 13 meeting with the heads of
the RA police. Each policeman has to solve three main problems:
crime prevention, public order protection and fight against crimes,
and these problems, as the president pointed out, should be solved
by the police based on the trust and support of the society. "For
many years those leaving abroad were told to apply first of all to
the police when facing a problem, but, unfortunately, this is not
the case in our country," the president said, adding "the citizens
of our country expect results from you". At the same time he stated:
"You will be respected if people see that the policeman respects
the honor of his uniform, people will respect and trust you if they
make sure that he is unbribable and honest and no illegal deal may
be concluded with him".

S. Sargsian noted that the postelection developments showed that there
is much work to be done in public order protection. According to him,
since the March 1 events, the society has become much more sensitive
to the actions of policemen, which should be a signal for policemen to
display vigilance. "I have said repeatedly that both the organizers of
rallies and the state have their share of guilt in the March 1 events,
and if the state has its share of guilt, then, if course, the police
has its portion of guilt too," the president said. In his words,
it was for the first time in the recent history of Armenia that the
police encountered a special, organized program of mass disorder. "It
is clear that a situation which has no precedent is fraught with
danger, but I am sure that if the actions of our policemen had been
more professional, if their training and equipment had been better,
perhaps it would have been possible to avoid this great tragedy which
claimed the lives of 2 policemen and 8 citizens," he said, at the same
time pointing out the self-denial of many members of the police and
police troops. He indicated "the heroic deed of Major Tadevosian",
noting that "we must always remember him and take care of his family".

The Armenian president underlined that "there have been rallies in
our country, and I am sure they will be. You must act in such a way
that everything will be done within the law, but it does not mean
that you should not take any actions when people break the law: if a
mass event starts to exceed the bounds of the law, you bear a definite
responsibility: no one must conceal his offences and criminal actions
under the name of democracy".

The president spoke about the work of traffic police: "Literally,
a column of expensive cars with the so-called good number plates
passes before the eyes of a traffic policeman, whereas he just turns
his back and does not notice them. Moreover, at that time he finds
a pitiable driver and tries to fine him, that is, he creates an
illusion of work – it is inadmissible". S. Sargsian said that a few
months ago he was the prime minister and never broke traffic rules,
in particular, never drove through a red light: "if the prime minister
does not permit himself to drive through a red light, it ill becomes
you to do so," the president told the policemen. According to him,
a traffic policemen’s action not in line with the law and traffic
rules, his disrespectful attitude to drivers, even a small case of
bribe taking will not be tolerated.

The president assured those present that the employess of the police
system will have good remuneration but the authorities will be more
demanding to the quality of their work. "Army officers, policemen,
employees of the security system have the right to receive apartments
on better conditions, the government is already taking steps in this
direction". He added that his meetings with policemen will continue,
and new tasks will be given each time: "If we do not see any real
improvement in the work of traffic police next time, we will ask
Mr. Ohanian (NT: Margar Ohanian is the newly-appointed head of traffic
police) to tell us about the reasons, and the questions will be harsh".