Deployment of Criminal Investigation, Special Forces, and Autonomous Crime Prevention Units Across the Province
Recently, as crimes involving weapons have occurred consecutively, causing growing anxiety among the residents of Gyeongnam Province, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency has stepped up to protect the residents.
The Provincial Police Agency announced that it is conducting special security activities in densely populated areas to alleviate residents' anxiety and protect them from various crimes.
Kim Byung-su, Chief of Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency (center), is directing special security activities in a densely crowded area. [Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency]
On the 5th, Commissioner Kim Byung-su visited a department store and the intercity bus terminal in Oedong, Gimhae City, encouraging the police officers engaged in resident protection and crime prevention activities and directing the scene.
Commissioner Kim urged, "Please recognize that the current situation is as serious as a terrorist threat and do your best for the safety of the people."
He also asked the department store facility managers to "pay special attention, such as increasing security personnel, to ensure the safety of visitors."
Earlier, on the 4th, he led two special security activity briefing sessions in the morning and afternoon, attended by the chiefs of 23 police stations in the province and 175 district police and substation chiefs.
At the meeting, Commissioner Kim instructed, "Increase criminal investigations, deploy riot police and special forces in densely populated areas such as large marts, and strengthen local safety patrols by district police and substation officers to ensure residents do not live in fear."
The police special forces are conducting special security operations at the terminal. [Photo by Gyeongnam Police Agency]
According to the Provincial Police Agency, currently, about 150 detectives are deployed to around 70 locations in the Gyeongnam area where many people gather, such as train stations, terminals, department stores, and large marts.
Police special forces and police dogs have also been deployed to search for so-called 'suspicious individuals' and to prevent violent crimes such as those involving weapons.
At local police stations, such as the Geoje Police Station, Chief Kim Myung-man, volunteer crime prevention members, and female honorary substation chiefs are conducting patrols directly at department stores in Sinhyeon-dong, Geoje City.
Since the night of the 4th, about 1,990 volunteer crime prevention members have been conducting night patrols in 18 cities and counties.
About 20 university student volunteers in Jinju also contributed to safety activities at the Jinju M2 Festival event.
A police SWAT team member engaged in special security operations is giving commands to a police dog in front of the SWAT vehicle. [Photo by Gyeongnam Police Agency]
A joint response system has also been established between the Provincial Police Agency and the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Disaster Situation Room.
When a report of a person with a weapon or suspicious behavior is received at 112, the 112 comprehensive situation room forwards it to the provincial disaster situation room, which immediately informs residents of the relevant information using the disaster text message system.
Commissioner Kim stated, "The special security activities in densely populated areas will continue for the time being until the related situation stabilizes," adding, "We plan to carry out these activities continuously and strongly so that residents can regain peace of mind."
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