Chief of the Patrol Police Department Oleksiy Biloshytsky confirmed reports of an incident that occurred on Harmatna Street in Kyiv involving a patrol police crew and a driver who had been stopped for a traffic violation, and called for mutual respect, especially when police officers are performing their official duties.
"Today on Harmatna Street in Kyiv, a patrol police crew stopped a car after the driver failed to respond to a demand to pull over, prompting the officers to give chase. The driver of the car, who was stopped for a traffic violation, struck a patrol officer in the face during the altercation," he wrote on Telegram on Monday, noting that a video clip is circulating online, "and people are trying to portray this situation differently from how it actually happened."
According to Biloshytsky – and as also evidenced by the police officer's body camera footage attached to the post – the patrol officers had previously noticed a Honda traveling in the public transportation lane. The driver did not respond to the order to stop, after which the officers began a pursuit.
"The car was stopped on Harmatna Street. During the interaction, the driver and passenger behaved aggressively and used profanity toward the law enforcement officers, and at one point physically assaulted the police," Biloshytsky said.
He said the overall situation is currently difficult: "There's a war; people are exhausted and worn out; the men are returning from combat zones with varying degrees of injuries and a heightened sense of justice. But there must be an understanding that there is a professional environment where people are doing their jobs. And no matter what the circumstances, there must be mutual respect and a normal approach to routine situations like today's."
"We serve side by side with all our brothers and sisters in the Defense Forces and deeply respect the military. There are also many wounded officers in the patrol police units, with injuries of varying severity. But that does not give anyone the right to punch someone in the face or hurl profanities-especially at a police officer while they are performing their official duties," Biloshytsky said.
"Let's respect one another," the Patrol Police Department chief said
