The Chief Commander of the Police responds to the arrest of officers

The Chief of Police, General Marek Boroń, does not consent to our profession being an aggravating factor in criminal proceedings, the Police Headquarters statement reads. The Chief also requests information on the number of unjustified arrests of police officers.

The statement from the Police Headquarters (KGP) was a response to the arrest of four police officers – Tomasz C., Wojciech N., Patryk M., and Artur S. They were brought to the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw, where they were charged with exceeding their authority in subduing the perpetrator of a notorious murder at a rectory six years ago. Onet reported the case, stating that the officers were arrested on July 16.

This situation was commented on Saturday evening on the profile of the Police Headquarters on the website of the 10th General Inspector Marek Boroń.

As we read in the entry, Boroń "ordered the Commander of the Internal Affairs Bureau of the Police to prepare information on the number of cases of police officers being detained at the request of the prosecutor's office and brought to court in a situation where such a decision was not caused by a real need to ensure the proper course of proceedings (e.g. a significant lapse of time since the event, or detention due to non-payment of alimony)".

The post added that the proceedings "are related to an event that occurred a few days ago, when police officers were detained and brought in for questioning by the prosecutor's decision, even though six years have passed since the incident under investigation." "The prosecutor overseeing the proceedings refused to summon the police officers," the Police Headquarters emphasizes.

The information prepared by BSWP is to be used by the Chief Commander of the Police to work out an "appropriate procedure" with the prosecutor's office.

"The Chief of Police, and indeed our entire force, does not consent to our profession being an aggravating factor in criminal proceedings. Police officers risk their lives every day to serve others and have the right to be treated the same as other citizens," the post also stated.

The arrest of four police officers pertains to events that took place on April 11, 2019. On that day, 41-year-old Jan B. attacked 64-year-old Marek T., who arrived at church with his wife. During the incident, the woman was confessing, and the victim went to visit the priest at the rectory. The perpetrator allegedly struck Marek T. several times and then threw him on the church floor. The priest rushed to the victim's aid, but was also attacked by Jan B. The priest notified the police and emergency services. After resuscitation, the victim was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

The prosecutor brought two charges against Jan B. The first charges him with murdering 64-year-old Marek T. by striking him several times in the head and slamming his head against the floor. A preliminary autopsy report indicates that the victim died from "extensive craniocerebral trauma." The second charge concerns inflicting bodily harm on a priest who attempted to overpower him.

In October 2020, the investigation into this case was discontinued, and the suspect, Jan. B., was placed under psychiatric treatment in a closed facility.

On Saturday, Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński also announced a meeting with Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek on the matter. He wrote on the X portal that "the government attaches great importance to the independence of the prosecutor's office," but cannot "understand the decision of one of the prosecutors to detain the police officers who apprehended the perpetrator of the crime."

The Police Headquarters also commented earlier on the case. "In connection with the proceedings conducted by the prosecutor's office, the Police Commander-in-Chief, at the request of three on-duty police officers, granted them financial assistance under Article 66a, point 3 of the Police Act to cover their legal costs," the Police Headquarters reported on the X portal.

As Piotr Skiba, spokesman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw, explained in an interview with PAP, the long break in the proceedings was due to waiting for specialist opinions. "First and foremost, an expert opinion in the field of restraint techniques, a highly experienced academic lecturer at the police academy, which revealed irregularities in the conduct of these officers," he said.

The prosecutor's office then awaited a report from forensic experts to determine whether the man's health condition could have been caused by the actions of these officers. However, the report did not allow for a definitive conclusion that this was the case.

Skiba noted that the prosecutor conducting the proceedings decided at the very beginning that "for the good of the preparatory proceedings, it was necessary to question on the same day the four officers against whom a decision to present charges had been issued and two witnesses - officers who were at the scene of the incident and who did not directly participate in the overpowering."

- As part of the official proceedings and preparatory proceedings, some officers concealed important circumstances concerning this intervention, which made it necessary to avoid contact and cooperation between these officers immediately before the interrogation and procedural activities carried out at the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw - Skiba stressed. (PAP)

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