State Police (Latvia)

The State Police of Latvia (also Latvian State Police, Latvian: Latvijas Valsts policija) is the national law enforcement agency of Latvia. It is subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. The agency is divided into five Regional Administrations (Riga, Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme, Zemgale), which are responsible for policing priorities and the availability of public security police.[2]

Latvian Police
State Police of Latvia
Latvijas Valsts policija
Logo patch
Law enforcement agency overview
Formed5 December 1918 (1918-12-05)
JurisdictionGovernment of Latvia
HeadquartersČiekurkalna 1.līnija 1 k- 4, Rīga
Employees7000+ (2014) [1]
Law enforcement agency executive
  • General Andrejs Grišins (interim), Chief of the State Police
Parent Law enforcement agencyMinistry of the Interior
Websitewww.vp.gov.lv

History

The founding date of the Latvian Police is considered to be December 5th, 1918, when the transitional government of the newly-proclaimed Republic of Latvia, the People's Council of Latvia, approved the Temporary Regulations on the Internal Security Organization (Latvian: Pagaidu noteikumi par iekšējās apsardzības organizēšanu), which regulated the structure of the police force and put it under jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior of Latvia, led by Miķelis Valters. The date is now commemorated in Latvia as the Day of the Police. The regulations ordered the formation of 23 police districts - one for each district of Latvia and 6 prefectures of the largest cities (Riga, Liepāja, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Rēzekne, Ventspils).[3]

Due to the ongoing Latvian War of Independence and the lack of territory controlled by Latvian forces at that time, the force could only begin its activities in the summer of 1919 after the Latvian Army and its allies had liberated large parts of the country from the Red Army. Facing a lack of qualified personnel, the Police School at the Riga Prefecture was opened in the same year.

After the war, the force was further divided into the Civil (Kārtības policija), Criminal (Kriminālpolicija) and Secret Police (Political Police, Politiskā policija). The Latvian Criminal Police became a member of Interpol in 1929.[4] After the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, the police force was dissolved and former servicemen persecuted under the Soviet regime. Law enforcement in the Latvian SSR was primarily the task of the Soviet militsiya.

After the restoration of the independence of Latvia, the Latvian Police was re-established from the base of the militsiya in 1991, with one of the first units being the 1st Police (Patrol) Battalion on April 30th, 1991. The main task of the battalion, which was the first armed formations of the Latvian government, was to provide security of the Supreme Council of Latvia and strategically important buildings (government offices, radio and television). In 1992, the battalion was renamed as the Security Service of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Drošības dienests, LR DD), which was merged into the Military Police in 2010.[5] Latvia rejoined Interpol in 1992.[6]

Organization

The agency is led by the Chief of the State Police. Currently an Interim Chief - former head of the Criminal Police, General Andrejs Grišins - has been leading the agency since 20 February 2020, when General Ints Ķuzis resigned in order to run as a candidate for the 2020 Riga City Council election.[7][8] Ķuzis had been in office since 2 August 2011 and previously served as the head of the Riga Department of the State Police.[9]

Former Chief of Police, General Ints Ķuzis in 2012

In 2015, the State Police consisted of:

  • Regional Administrations (pl. reģionu pārvaldes) - Riga, Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme and Latgale
  • Main Civil Police Administration
  • Main Criminal Police Administration
  • Forensic Science Administration
  • Main Administrative Administration
  • Finance Administration
  • Supply Administration
  • Personnel Administration
  • Classified Regime Administration
  • Special Records Management Administration
  • Public Relations Administration
  • Internal Control Bureau[10]

Ranks

The Latvian police ranks are similar to the ones used by the Latvian Armed Forces.

Service ranks of the State Police of Latvia
Rank in Latvian Rank in English[11] Rank insignia
Ģenerālis General
Pulkvedis Colonel
Pulkvežleitnants Lieutenant Colonel
Majors Major
Kapteinis Captain
Virsleitnants First Lieutenant
Leitnants Second Lieutenant
Virsnieka vietnieks Warrant Officer
Virsseržants First Sergeant
Seržants Sergeant
Kaprālis Corporal
Ierindnieks Private
Kadets Cadet

Equipment
A Volvo S60 patrol car in 1991 livery and police officers in Riga, 2011

Vehicles

In 1991, the Latvian State Police first adopted a grey-white vehicle livery, which was designed by Gunārs Glūdiņš, a former professor of the Art Academy of Latvia.[12] The design was based on the black-and-white look of American police and military vehicles. The first iteration of the design also included stripes in red.[13] A similar white-red version was adopted by the State Fire and Rescue Service,[14] a green-white - by Latvian municipal police forces[15] and an early grey-white version by the Security Service of Parliament and State President, as well as other services.

In June 2018, while celebrating its 100th anniversary, the Police unveiled a new livery with blue, lime green and gray elements arranged similarly to a Latvian folk ornament, the Brush of Māra (Latvian: Māras slotiņa). The new design was designed by a group of students and professors at the Art Academy. The new design is scheduled to replace the old livery by 2020.[16] There was some discussion over the choice, notably by Glūdiņš, who remarked that the new version was "very lesbian and feminine" but didn't condemn it and acknowledged that the old design didn't fit well on some of the newer patrol cars.[13] New uniforms were also presented later the same year.[17]

Current vehicles

Former vehicles

See also

References
  1. "Police service marks 96th year with solemn ceremonies". eng.lsm.lv. 2014-12-05.
  2. "About us > The State Police of Latvia". www.vp.gov.lv. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  3. Žīgure, Anna (1998). Latvijas policijas vēsture, 2. sējums; 7. sējums (in Latvian). Fakts. ISBN 9789984925103.
  4. "History - Ministry of the Interior". www.iem.gov.lv. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  5. "1. Policijas bataljons - Vēsture (1st Police Battalion - History)". bataljons.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  6. "Latvia / Europe / Member countries / Internet / Home - INTERPOL". www.interpol.int. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  7. "Valsts policijas priekšnieka pienākumu izpildītājs būs Kriminālpolicijas šefs Grišins" [Interim Chief of State Police will be Criminal Police chief Grišins]. delfi.lv (in Latvian). 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  8. "Former police chief reveals immediate political ambitions". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  9. "Ints Kuzis – new Chief of State Police". Baltic News Network. 2011-08-02. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  10. "Valsts policija -Struktūra" [State Police - Structure]. www.vp.gov.lv. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  11. "Iekšlietu ministrijas sistēmas iestāžu un Ieslodzījuma vietu pārvaldes amatpersonu ar speciālajām dienesta pakāpēm dienesta gaitas likums: V nodaļa" [Law On the Career Course of Service of Officials with Special Service Ranks Working in Institutions of the System of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prisons Administration: Chapter V]. LIKUMI.LV. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  12. "Police present new look". eng.lsm.lv. 2018-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  13. "'Zebra': Līdzšinējā policijas auto dizaina autors par jauno – 'tas ir ļoti lesbisks'" ["Zebra": 'It's very lesbian' - the author of the current police car design says about the new one]. delfi.lv (in Latvian). 2018-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  14. Smits, Martins (2014-08-20), English: Firefighter drill at Madliena retirement home, retrieved 2020-06-21
  15. Dickelbers (2007-07-20), Nederlands: Renault Kangoo I - Politieauto in Letland, retrieved 2020-06-21
  16. "Video: Ar kādiem auto policija turpmāk ķers pārkāpējus" [Video: What cars will the police catch violators with from now on]. delfi.lv (in Latvian). 2018-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  17. "Latvia's police show off stylish new look". eng.lsm.lv. 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  18. BNS (2015-05-14). "Foto: Valsts policijas jaunie motocikli izmaksājuši pusmiljonu eiro". delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  19. "Avarējot policijas konvoja autobusam, hospitalizēti četri aizturētie". LA.LV (in Latvian). Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  20. "Cits - Valsts Policija - Fotoalbumi - Latvijas Operatīvie Transportlīdzekļi". 112.ucoz.lv. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
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