1 more police officer sacked for far-right link

The Helsinki Police Department dismissed one more police officer in a larger case related to far-right ideology, said an official press release on Thursday.

Earlier, two other police officers were dismissed in last year in the same case while the authority issued warning to one guard.

In the autumn of 2020, the National Bureau of Investigation and the National Prosecution Authority investigated the larger case that focused on a far-right group comprised of security sector professionals.

In 2021, the Helsinki Police Department dismissed a senior detective constable of the Criminal Investigation Division and a senior sergeant of the Response and Control Division. Both officers were subjects of the pre-trial investigation.

In January 2022, the Helsinki Police Department issued decisions under civil service law on the three employees on whose part the prosecutor decided that a preliminary investigation was sufficient.

The Department dismissed a senior sergeant of the Response and Control Division and issued a warning to a guard of the Special Operation Division.

“These decisions issued under civil service law are based on the prosecutor’s assessment on whether a pre-trial investigation is required. In addition, we looked at how active these persons have been in the group, and the tone and number of their messages based on the materials collected for the pre-trial investigation. There were significant differences in the actions of the dismissed persons,” said Heikki Kopperoinen, Deputy Police Commissioner.

The Criminal Investigation Division’s senior detective constable was suspected of preparation of an aggravated offence against life or health due to the messages sent. He also sent messages to the dismissed senior sergeant of the Response and Control Division and one additional police officer. No charges were brought up against him. He was sentenced to a fine for a firearms offence and for offences in office in 2021. The Helsinki Police Department dismissed the officer in 2021 for being unsuitable for his duties.

The Response and Control Division’s senior sergeant was suspected of preparation of an aggravated offence against life or health due to the messages sent. He also sent messages to the dismissed senior detective constable of the Criminal Investigation Division. No charges were brought up against him. Charges are being considered for a suspected breach of official secrecy. The Helsinki Police Department dismissed the officer in 2021 for being unsuitable for his duties.

No ground of a crime for suspecting the Response and Control Division’s senior sergeant was found in the preliminary investigation. The officer had engaged in discussions with the dismissed senior sergeant of the Response and Control Division for years that were contrary to the values of the police.

The Helsinki Police Department dismissed the officer on 18 January 2022 for being unsuitable for the duties of a police officer.

No ground of a crime for suspecting the Special Operation Division’s guard was found in the preliminary investigation, but the guard had been active in the discussion group and behaved in a manner unbecoming of a civil servant. The Helsinki Police Department issued a warning to the guard on 18 January 2022.

No ground of a crime for suspecting the Response and Control Division’s senior sergeant was found in the preliminary investigation. The senior sergeant was engaged in normal work-related discussions with the previously mentioned person. The Helsinki Police Department found no grounds to take action under civil service law.

The guard of the Special Operation Division and the senior sergeant of the Response and Control Division are also suspected of a breach of professional secrecy. A consideration of charges is being conducted in these cases.

There was no indication of far-right ideology in the activities and messages of these persons. For their part, the Department will wait for the result of the consideration of charges and the possible decision issued by a court.

The police wield significant public power in the Finnish society. All actions of the police must be lawful, in line with the values of our society, and ethically sound. The civil servants’ obligation to act in a manner required by their position is stricter for police officers and extends to their time off duty as well.

“We must show what kinds of activities we do not condone with our actions,” said Lasse Aapio, Police Commissioner.

According to the Police Act, police officers must respect fundamental and human rights. In addition, the actions of police officers must be respectful, unbiased, and amicable and promote equal treatment, the press release added.