“Your works stems from the situation. I expect that you will work actively with the police because it’s up to you whether society respects and loves the police. The chaos that erupted between the police and society has changed quite a bit because of you,” Chief of Police Valery Osipyan said during the first public council session. The council had dissolved several years ago but the police chief ordered that it be set up again.
“I announce that I have adopted an open and transparent approach to my work. From now on, we will decide upon all important decisions within the police together, as a result of public discussion,” the police chief Valery Osipyan said to the members of the public council, who were mostly representatives of non-governmental organizations. According to him, the police are truly the protectors of the people. “The change in people’s treatment of the police and trust towards them has clearly changed.” The police chief mentioned that calls to police stations have grown by 12,000 over the past several months. “Citizens are no longer afraid to call the police after the new political changes in the country. This number isn’t referring to growth in criminal activity, but instead, it shows growth in trust towards the police.”
Then, Valery Osipyan reminded the social workers of one of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s announcements, that we live in a historical time period where law enforcement and society are merged together. “Therefore, the work of this public council is mandatory.”
Luiza Sukiasyan
