Regarding the recent continuous police misconduct, Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun of the National Police Agency has ordered a strict organizational response and issued a special alert.
On the afternoon of the 7th, Commissioner Yoon held a current issues meeting via video conference and issued a 'Special Alert to Eradicate Duty Violations' for about a month, from that day until the 11th of next month.
The main content of this special alert includes enhanced punishment for those who violate duties and strict measures for inadequate management responsibility. All 18 provincial police chiefs and frontline police station chiefs nationwide attended the meeting.
Recently, incidents and accidents involving police officers have occurred regardless of rank, raising concerns that discipline may have deteriorated excessively.
In response, Commissioner Yoon reportedly urged particular attention from managers and the organization. He emphasized, "Even statistically, misconduct related to drinking is increasing. Primarily, the individual is responsible, but secondly, colleagues working together, managers, and department heads must exercise special caution."
He continued, "Lastly, I ask that the station chiefs take special responsibility and oversee this carefully," adding, "Do not let individual deviations damage the organization's trust and morale."
On the 15th of last month, a lieutenant belonging to the Riot Police Unit was booked by the police on charges of obstructing official duties after assaulting two police officers who tried to restrain him and put him into a patrol car following a dispute with a taxi driver at an intersection in Seongdong-gu.
The next day, a sergeant from the Riot Police Unit assaulted a citizen who got into a dispute while intoxicated at a bar in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu.
Another sergeant from the Riot Police Unit was booked on charges of having sexual relations with a teenage female student he met through a smartphone application (app) and recording it on video.
At the end of last month, a sergeant in his early 40s from a district police substation under the Gangbuk Police Station in Seoul was caught by a crackdown team while engaging in prostitution with a woman he met through an app in Gangnam.
A police inspector from the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul was placed on standby after allegations arose that he behaved inappropriately with a reporter during a drinking session.
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