In case of the destroyed mural, still no conclusion for the police

Since the end of November, when six officers of the Kosovo Police were suspended for not responding to the destruction of a mural dedicated to the heroes of Kosare in North Mitrovica, the case is still without a conclusion, reports Koha. No decision has been made, and the police, conducting a disciplinary procedure due to negligent service, because its members did not identify the persons who destroyed the mural and did not inform their superiors.

Specifically, unknown perpetrators destroyed the mural dedicated to the heroes of Kosare in North Mitrovica with black spray paint on the night between November 27 and 28.

Afterwards, six policemen were suspended because they did not respond to the destruction of the mural. They were suspended for 72 hours for not being present at the scene and not identifying the persons who destroyed the mural.

Veton Elshani, Deputy Director of Kosovo Police for the North region, says that the Standards Directorate within the Police Directorate has not yet decided on this case.

“The case is not yet closed. The policemen were not suspended because the picture of someone who was or was not in the war was destroyed, but because of negligence,” Elshani said.

According to him, the police are not concerned with the content of the message that was painted over in black, but with the fact that the policemen were on duty and did not gather information about the event, nor did they inform their superiors.

“Prince Lazar Square should be monitored by the police. That's why they are there. And when someone comes, no matter who it is, and starts to write or draw something, and the police are there, they need to react. And when they gather information, the policemen are obliged to ask their superiors how to proceed,” Elshani explained.