05/09/2024

A special ceremony was held today at the Agency for Education and Professional Training (AEPTM), where 130 police officers of the Ministry of Interior of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton took an oath to adhere to the Constitution and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their work and to perform all duties and responsibilities of a police officer conscientiously and responsibly. The significance of today's event is highlighted by the fact that this is the first oath taken by police officers in the Ministry of Interior of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton since 2018.

The young police officers, who completed their basic training course at the Police Academy of the BiH Federation Ministry of Interior at Vraca, took their oath in front of the Minister of Interior of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Marijo Marić and Police Commissioner Robert Perić, in the presence of the senior inspectors of the Ministry of Interior, ministers from the Government of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, guests from the security sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as parents, relatives, and friends.

The Police Commissioner Robert Perić first addressed the parents of the young police officers, stating that they can be proud of their sons and daughters because "this day and this act of oath taking is a reward and a testament to their hard work, effort, and dedication."

"Being a police officer is not just a job. It is a title that carries great responsibility. Our fellow citizens will always look to you to preserve individual and collective security. With this uniform you become members of a large police family. You are here not only for our fellow citizens but also for each other," said Perić, adding that the completion of training programme is just the beginning of a professional journey on which young police officers will face complex and demanding tasks that will require them to be prepared for lifelong learning.

Perić underlined the complexity of police work prompted by technological development and globalization and stated that these complex challenges provide opportunities for gaining knowledge and professional development. "With your readiness to address these challenges, you will build your police careers. You will rely on the authority granted to you by the law. Always use it with the responsibility that comes with the uniform. That responsibility should be your guide. Responsible performance of duties, collegiality and professionalism in relations with citizens are the foundation that should spread through your entire professional career," Perić told the young police officers.

"This is a day that has been awaited for years. Every oath-taking event must be properly marked, but this one must be remembered in a special way; after a series of halted and blocked processes, we are finally moving forward, as we owe to our citizens," said the Minister of Interior of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Marijo Marić, adding that the young police officers metaphorically represent the cornerstone in the establishment of the new Ministry of Interior.

"You are aware that you will not do this job to receive praise, nor should you expect it. Satisfaction will come from everything you do with a pure heart and a calm mind," said Marić, particularly emphasizing that the young police officers, even as cadets through practical training, have made a significant contribution to the work of the Ministry of Interior of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, not only through their work but also through their presence in the field, which has been met with positive comments and praise from the public.

"Over time, you will learn to listen to the pulse of the city and the needs of your fellow citizens, gain understanding for people, and there will be moments when it will be difficult to separate emotion from the need for a professional and calm response," the minister warned, emphasizing that the young police officers must never forget that they are backed by one of the strongest and most organized police structures in the Federation, which has recently responded to a series of complex police tasks that would not have been possible without capable and well-organized police officers. "This is what you must preserve, the hard work your colleagues have achieved over the years. You are joining a police family that is the foundation on which you will grow individually. Be examples and encouragement for each other, but also a source of comfort when necessary. I am pleased to say that you are the Ministry's and the canton’s response to all the demands of the new era and a guarantee of peaceful sleep and security for our citizens. Times and people change, and so must the modern police that we want to build. But the principles and values of the police remain unchanged," concluded Minister Marić, thanking everyone who contributed in any way to the training of the 130 police officers who will soon be deployed to police departments across the canton.