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Tue, 26 Nov, 2013 04:18:41 AM FTimes-STT Report, November 26  Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero (front) and Police Director Seppo Kolehmainen at a press conference in Helsinki on Monday. Photo – Lehtikuva. National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero on Monday said he had considered the controversy created over the non-registration of informants at Helsinki police about the detained drug unit police chief and decided to continue discharging duty accordingly.
The police commissioner said he received support from people from different strata and thought that it would be wise to continue.
“I have received hundreds of messages from the citizens in this regard,” said Paatero, adding that it would be betrayal with them, if he stepped down.
Earlier in the morning, Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen said she had full support and confidence on Paatero and that he should continue as the head of the police.
Paatero justified his stance to continue as the police chief and argued that his resignation would give an impression that he was responsible for the mistakes or even guilty of unlawful acts.
The decision of resignation might create misunderstanding that there was something wrong in the entire police administration.
He also pointed out the proposed reform in the police administration by the end of this year as another reason behind holding his present position.
Earlier on November 21, minister Räsänen accused commissioner Paatero of concealing information about the bribery allegations against the drug unit chief of Helsinki police.
The minister has also asked the police boss to consider his position by the weekend.
Speaking at a press conference in the presence of the police commissioner, the minister said there were valid grounds to accuse the police of violating law and urged the Prosecutor General Office to probe into the matter.
Commissioner Paatero admitted the police’s failure to specify sources of proper information about the investigation into the bribery and the drug unit chief’s abuse of power.
Police on November 12 arrested Jari Aarnio, chief of Helsinki police’s drug unit, on various charges including taking bribe from a private company.
Following the incident, different political parties demanded that the government clarified the issue.
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