Dissatisfaction with Organizational Restructuring at 93.4%
Police Chief Jo Ji-ho: "A National Demand"
The National Police Workplace Council held a head-shaving protest on the day of the Police Day ceremony on the 21st, opposing the establishment of a mobile patrol unit and the implementation of organizational restructuring in central regional stations.
On that day, the Police Workplace Council criticized in front of the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, saying, "The leadership is ignoring the pain on the ground, disregarding the mental torture we endure, and acting as if our suffering does not exist."
The Police Workplace Council stated, "Every night, we dedicate ourselves to protecting citizens' safety through intense night shifts, and in the process, we face the reality of not even receiving fair wages," adding, "However, the National Police Agency chief's indifference and harsh remarks deepen our wounds. What we feel from his words and actions is only coldness and an obsession with efficiency."
The Police Workplace Council declared, "We will no longer endure this. We strongly warn those who ignore our pain," and said, "The National Police Agency chief must listen to our voices and make efforts to understand and improve the hardships faced by frontline police officers."
According to a survey conducted by Assemblyman Jeong Chunsaeng of the Party for National Innovation together with the Police Workplace Council, among 2,657 police officers surveyed, 93.4% expressed dissatisfaction with the organizational restructuring. When asked whether the reorganization of the mobile patrol unit and the criminal mobile unit would help in responding to crime and police activities, 94.6% and 92.3% respectively answered no.
The number of signatures for the National Assembly public petition requesting the impeachment of Police Commissioner Jo Jiho has exceeded 50,000. Kim Geonpyo, a sergeant from the Sineoji District Unit of Gimhae Jungbu Police Station in Gyeongnam, who is the petitioner, wrote, "The Police Commissioner is neglecting his duties and, instead of presenting measures for the recent consecutive deaths of police officers, is enforcing orders that drive police officers and innocent citizens to death by implied intent. We strongly request the impeachment of the Police Commissioner."
At a regular press briefing on the 14th, Commissioner Jo said regarding the impeachment petition, "The public demand is to do their best during working hours and to check this at a minimum level," adding, "I find it difficult to agree with the fact that there are those who do not agree with this."
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