Generational change in the police as well
On the eve of the reform, the Tukuma police station had 85 staff positions and 17 vacancies, which is quite a lot. During the year, five employees retired, another five just started work. We asked what regarding the employees – are there any shortages following the reform?
J. Bachs:
– This phase is marked by the retirement of those employees who started working immediately following the creation of the State Police in 1991, the first graduates of the Police Academy. It can be said that a generational change is taking place. The only problem is that not so much comes to the place! In the beginning, there was already a need for many police officers, officers. There were regarding 270 people on the course alone. And even though only a part survived to the end, it is still not comparable to the current situation.
R. Karlsson:
– Another difference. At that time, there was an order: whichever district a person came from, he was sent to work there. But now the quota distribution is taken into account and the new policeman goes to the station where there are proportionately more vacancies. Considering that there are more of them in the capital, some of the students, following graduating from the Police College, stay there. As a result, these new police officers may not even arrive in the regions, especially those closer to Riga.
– What is the situation with the number of employees following the merger?
R. Karlsson:
– In total, there are 150 staff positions in Rietumzemgale district, and currently 47 of them are vacant. It’s basically a third, not including employees who are on parental leave or something like that. But it is not the case that a number of employees suddenly left the police following the merger.
J. Bachs:
– The goal of the reform was to equalize the workload of employees, therefore, uniform criteria were created, which were applied throughout the country. There were stations where, as a result, there were even too many employees. But that was not our case.
– What are these main criteria?
J. Bachs:
– One of the largest and most objective – the population of the region. And on average, one response assignment must be provided for every 10,000 inhabitants at the same time. In our case there are five of them. The average number of events, criminal proceedings in the station was also taken into account. It should be added here that the data of 2018 were taken as a basis, and, for example, there should have been changes in the number of inhabitants, but the criteria have not been recalculated at the moment.
– However, the most important question – can you cope with the existing number of employees?
J. Karlsson:
– We cope with the primary tasks. But, of course, in order for the police to become even more visible, as well as to focus more on preventive work, this indicator should be improved. At the moment, the plus point is that, when the two stations merge, there are more resources and, accordingly, more opportunities to manage them. For example, depending on the actuality, the need, we can send an assignment from Tukum to Dobeli and vice versa. They can also help each other in investigations.
J. Debate:
– In this case, managers have the most difficult task, because, as the saying goes, “you can do anything for money”, to paraphrase – with full staff, of course, it would also be easier… But the work must be done in the same way.
Call and the police will come!
One is the internal work organization of the police itself, the other is how and whether it also affects people who approach the law enforcement officers. It turns out that there are no significant or, rather, noticeable changes. But there are some nuances that must be taken into account.
R. Karlsson:
– The reform has more directly affected the structural changes. Namely, if earlier there were order police and criminal police departments, now there are no such names anymore. There is a Response Division, which combines law enforcement officers who previously worked in road traffic, patrol, as well as some station inspectors, and there is an Investigation Division, which combines former criminal police officers and also some former station inspectors. What should residents consider? There are no such “district inspectors” as before, even if someone might still look for them in the parishes out of habit. Therefore, if there is a problem that requires the intervention of the police, you should call immediately 110, which connects to the operational management department of the region. It then in turn sends the closest responding assignment to the scene.
J. Bachs:
– Another advantage is that there are generally more policemen who are on the streets every day. Also, police officers have the opportunity to become more universal, to learn from each other, thus the service should also become better. Namely, there is an event, and regardless of whether it is a crime or an administrative violation, everything can be done to the end and on the spot by one assignment.
– This is the ideal option. But what regarding now?
– Everything is in the process, we are learning, and the employees have to get out of their comfort zone in the sense that maybe before they were specialists in one of their fields, which they knew perfectly, but now they have to learn others as well. Well, for example, not everyone had to draw diagrams following traffic accidents and the like on a daily basis. This is a challenge for all police officers right now.
– Does this also apply to the Investigation Department?
S. Stempers:
– There are also five groups in the investigation and what has come to light is administrative practice.
J. Bachs:
– Here, it should be added, there is a nuance – from time to time the discussion was brought up regarding the fact that, for example, petty thefts, where the losses do not exceed one monthly salary, might be decriminalized, thus reducing the workload of investigators. But the next question that became relevant: who will examine these cases? Well, a decision has been made that it is done in one place – in the Investigation Department.
It should also be added that as a result of the reform, the principle of group management was also introduced. This means that the direct boss is closer to the employee. There are groups of up to 15 people, where the direct manager is reachable every day, for example, in response, he goes with his subordinates in shifts. Therefore, there is an opportunity to better understand the employees and also help if it is necessary in some situations.
– Returning to the question of the usual order. For example, there is an event here in the city and a person goes straight to the police station. How does it work now?
J. Bachs:
– We still have people who provide the so-called pass mode at the station, that is, they are on site. But until the issue of technical means is resolved, it is likely that in Tukuma it will be similar, as it is, for example, in Saldu or in several stations on the Vidzeme side, when it is available to people during working hours, but outside of that, there will be an intercom at the entrance, which immediately will connect to 110. The problem is explained there, the nearest police crew arrives and resolves the situation. Right now it’s basically like this: call and we’ll come!
It is also planned to install an isolator
A question that is relevant every year: when and if the Tukuma police station will move to new premises. It should be reminded that the last of the options provided for a new, modern fire station to be built in Tukuma, where there will also be rooms for State Police officers. We asked, how far are these plans?
R. Karlsson:
– Once once more, what would you like to add regarding the reform – when the stations in Dobele and Tukuma are merged, they will remain in place, as will the employees. It was misunderstood by many at the beginning. But as for the plans, nothing has changed at the moment – it is still relevant that the new depot in Tukuma will be built in 2025. The deadline has not been postponed, and coordination work is currently underway. The Tukuma building is still on the list of priority buildings.
J. Bachs:
– It should be added that there will also be an isolator in these rooms. Currently, there is neither Tukum nor Dobele, and if necessary we are forced to go to Bauska or Riga.
– The Kandava depot is planned to be completed already this year. What regarding the facilities for the police?
J. Bachs:
– Two rooms are planned for it, but there will be no people on duty every day, for example, like the precinct inspectors mentioned above. However, in situations where the investigator needs to conduct an interrogation, it will be possible to agree that it takes place in Kandava, and there will be no need to go to Tukum. In fact, it has been similar until now.
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The continuation of the conversation can be read in the newspapers of February 28 and March 3. You can get acquainted with them HERE===========>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
