My goal is not to spoil what works

The communication and energy of M. Akelaitis fell in the eye. The new head of Kaunas police did not hide that thanks to Kauno diena, he had acquired the nickname of a black horse among his new colleagues, and he was eagerly and openly talked about police weeds and his weaknesses and other not -comfortable things, amazed by his courage. And in his own way, the motto of Mindaugas Baršis, who was replaced by this position, is the star of Kaunas, not its leader.

First impressions

– What is the special duty of the chief of the Kaunas County Police Headquarters that you have been nominated twice?

– The first time was a test. And then, by the way, as it is now, the police had a reasonably believed that all tenders were to agree in advance and only those who do something to someone. And I never felt that my father, uncle or aunt would be pulled up. And I wanted to prove to the then collective where I worked to claim any responsibilities and work as I like to joke in the village. And now I was a candidate for this position because it’s time to change something. I had been working for the longest time before the Police Department in one place for up to five years, and in the department I got stuck in half a half.

– Why do you think you won this selection this time? What best of your qualities would you distinguish and what would you like to get rid of?

– According to the Selection Commission, every candidate could win it, as they all had the right qualities and experiences for this position. However, if I had been a member of the commission, my decision would be determined by the desire for something to change because, in my opinion, the rotation applied by the police is a very healthy thing. For example, I have not worked in Kaunas and this duty is a challenge that I greatly regard as an opportunity. And because of the personal qualities, it is probably often from the side that I balance between straightness and rectification. Although I do not like to wrap it in cotton wool, I know there are boundaries. Therefore, I would always like to be confidently straight, but not a rectified. Although emotions sometimes break like a good decade ago or even more.

– What do you first associate with criminal Kaunas, or the dark side of it? And what’s the biggest goal of your own police forces?

– Criminal Kaunas associates me with historical headlines, although I know that the situation here is controlled. Only we are very reactive – if something happens, we talk a lot about it. In the past, we were used to the background of poor crime. But now it is not, so every case judging by headlines looks like something very special. For example, events for a year ago in Laisvės Alley. Although, compared to what is happening, for example, in Sweden, where lately explosions and shootings are essentially – every day, there is nothing like it, even though we tend to consider the Scandinavian countries in dream countries.

When I went to lead Kaunas police, I did not set any ambitious goal for myself. My goal is not to spoil what works. I tend to more evolution and growth than some revolutions. Now the most important thing is to maintain the improvement of the situation, achieved by the work of many people, and that it is always controlled.

Baptism: After one of the publications of Kaunas Day, M. Akelaitis adhered to the black horse’s nickname, and this figure appeared in his office. / Photo by Edgar Cickiewicz

– You have been leading Kaunas County Police for two weeks. What are the first impressions – whether they met or did they destroy prejudices?

– The impressions are good. I was curious and, while working in the Police Department, I knew what was going on in Kaunas police. So what I knew I found. The biggest concern is that I have not yet been able to meet all the units and their leaders yet, because the essence is people.

Eloquent background

-Could you explain why your deputy Antanas Urbelis, who previously worked in Tauragė, has been publicly proclaimed, has won the selection to the Deputy Chief of Kaunas County Police for Administration and started working with you on May 5, after a week suddenly became your deputy responsible for the implementation of public and criminal police tasks,

– Life has happened. Everything is very simple: selection for the administration of Kaunas County Police Chief and his deputy was declared almost at the same time. And their results may have been varied. Everything came from the uncertainty. After Darius Pliavga won the selection of the heads of Panevėžys County Police, the experience of A. Urbelis was re -evaluated. In addition, he agreed to become my deputy for activities, which is why this rocking took place.

– Is it true that you found yourself in the police after the dream come true, when you finish school, enter where you wanted?

– My generation chose the professions of a lawyer and manager. I chose the right to enter. Then I chose the police. And I stayed here, even though there were a couple of cases when I was very serious about going to another service. But at the crucial moment I decided to stay. Where I wanted to leave, I will not betray. It was a long time ago.

– Have there been cops in your family or family? And what is the situation at the moment that you are so successful in climbing the career ladder?

– There were no cops with us. There is no more without me now. True, my eldest – the nineteen -year -old son has not yet fully decided what he will become. Although, as far as I know his plans, they are not related to the police. I also did not follow in the footsteps of my parents. My father is a medic, my mother is a pharmacist. True, my wife is a lawyer. She works as an assistant judge in Marijampolė court.

-You have given the police for 25 years, or more than half of your life. Has this service changed you and how?

– I think it changed, though I don’t feel that way. However, there was a period at the same time when the spouse said, « Turn off the cop. » Just when we were getting used to the work that said, we decided and we do … Although I will always listen to another opinion. True, I will rarely give up, but serious arguments always overcome.

– One of the principles based on the ethics of a police officer is political neutrality – the policeman cannot be a member of any party. Your father is actively involved in politics – he was already a member of five political parties or unions and has repeatedly participated in the election to the Seimas. It is difficult or easy to be both a principled officer and a good son?

– It’s easy because I never considered my father’s politician. In my opinion, his attempts to participate in national politics have never been serious. He has always been a municipal politician. And I have nothing to do with Marijampolė police. At home, we and my father are discussing and arguing. However, we are a family that is not angry with different political views. Although I do not fully support some of my father’s political plants. They are not acceptable to me. And the fact that a police officer must be politically neutral is a great advantage, though I did not miss a single vote in any election. I understand the duty to be objective in the service, but no one will take away my views. And I would be very happy if every subordinate had his own political views, because then he would have values.

Evaluation: According to the Police Department, M. Akelaitis won the selection of Kaunas County Police Head on his work in international projects and legislation./edgar Cickevičius photo

About problems

– When the Police Department announced that you had won the selection of the position of Kaunas County Police Chief, it was emphasized that you have contributed to the implementation of national and international projects in law enforcement, strategies in the legislative process. Could you make these abstract claims to concretize?

– We had to share experiences in Lithuania to fight domestic violence in Turkey and Azerbaijan, where different cultural traditions. I participated in the implementation of the Serbian Police project to digitize its activities and manage the forces, because we have a sufficiently advanced system in Lithuania in these areas. I had to work even more in the field of legislation, as representatives of the Police Department are very often invited to meetings of the Seimas committees when they are discussing amendments to various laws. Much of the administrative misconduct Code was involved. For example, some misconduct cases were heard by courts, some by police. We suggested that all misconduct would be dealt with by the police, and if the offender disagrees with her penalty, he may go to court. I had to work on both the Law on Tobacco Control and changing the laws on cruelty to animals and contributing to the improvement of weapons control.

– What functions do you think the police should abandon and is there really nothing of what has been destroyed in recent years, should not be restored?

– I would not agree with the word « destroyed ». If you mean the station, I can tell you about a meeting with a representative of one police. There are many of those stations. Their workload is high and therefore lacking officers. And there are currently discussions about the necessity of the station, as their network begins in Austria reaches the 19th century. – The purpose of their founding was to hear the whistle from the station of the station heard colleagues and came to his help.

Today, the Lithuanian police follow that it is not a person who has to go to the police for help, but officers would come to the person upon receipt of such a message. Therefore, I do not agree with the statement that the station, most of which were located in poor buildings, were destroyed.

Of course, there are individual functions that the police could abandon, as that service is no longer as needed as before, as they are used by 100 people when they used 100,000. However, the most difficult function of the police is prevention, as it is only done by the police. Although the purpose of its activities is actually termination of a crime being organized or committed. And the causes of crimes are social, so their prevention is the function of educational, health care and social institutions. However, these tasks are not raised. For example, catching children at schools. Is it possible to solve this problem? Unless we want the result achieved through fear. However, if we want a conscious society, we should deal with this problem differently.

Criminal Kaunas associates me with historical headlines, although I know that the situation is controlled here.

– One of the most negative opinions about the police is that it is not worth contacting, as officials will still discourage you from writing a statement. Why do you think some of them do this? And is it legal?

– Understandably – this behavior of the officials is illegal. We ourselves are trying to control this by non -public means. Unfortunately, we still have such officials. However, they do this certainly not for statistics because it was very important before. And today, according to my data, about 60 percent of the people are already studying in Kaunas County. of all crimes. And that is the result of her police work.

– Currently, the police are the only one that has classified the names, duties and contacts of the majority of its employees among the institutions related to the majority of its employees. Neither the prosecutor’s office nor the courts did. Could you, as one of the police chiefs, explain these hideouts with the public from which you are maintained?

– Once upon a time there were about 10,000 police officers in Lithuania. Today, about 7 thousand. And each of them has a lot of work, so there should be no need to be unnecessarily hindered, because only certain units provide information if needed. Therefore, I see what you claim, and I see the benefits. In addition, there are other ways to obtain information – the common phones, e. Email, social networks. Of course, this order can be improved. And the police are open to the public. However, it contains some of the posts that have previously performed auxiliary functions, some of the previous procedures are digitized, and the centralization of the departments has occurred.

Impressed: When communicating with the new head of Kaunas police, his communication, courage and energy are paused. Courage/Photo by Edgar Cickiewicz

What stays after work

– Is it true that you have traveled to the service so far – even in Vilnius from Kazlų Rūda, where you live? If so, why? And are you going to do the same way by Kaunas County Police?

– Yes, because I didn’t change my place of residence for so much time and I’m not going to change it. I grew up there and my kids there – the fourth generation. And I feel good while living in a small city. And I’m used to work where he is, to go home.

– How do you restore strength after tension at work and how do you best rest after it?

– For me, the best rest is to go to the forest, but not mushrooms, but just walking. This is very well cleaned by the head. I like to go out for a few days in the summer. Of course with family.