Athens, 6-10-2004

• There are certain moments in the life of a man which are so important that they cannot be captured in sentences but only experienced through emotions. They cannot be described in words only expressed in terms of feelings.
• Today, at this very moment when rank, position, and office give way to soul, heart, and emotion, it is very difficult for me to express or describe what I feel.
• I recall today the emotions I had more than 34 years ago when I joined the Police full of dreams and hopes, back when I started my career with the Force.
• I also recall the feelings I had 28 years ago when I graduated from the Officers School full of ambitions and expectations, objectives and a vision of the future.
• Today I reflect on the feelings I had in the various posts and ranks I held over those years during the course of my career.
• I recall the feelings I had 3 years ago at the pinnacle of my career when the State entrusted me with the post of Hellenic Police Chief.
• Today the time has come to hand over the reins of leadership of the Force having done what I had to do.
• Mine was a career, I believe, which focused around a belief in the oath I took; dedication to duty; serving nation and state; serving society and the individual.
• Bearing those ideals in mind, when I assumed the duties of Hellenic Police Chief I undertook to make every effort to ensure a modern, effective police force, with a democratic ethos, a human face, a police force at the citizen`s side.
• Back then I had called upon all uniformed and plain-clothes police officers to collaborate honestly in order to create a new Police Force capable of meeting the needs of the 21st century.
• The needs were numerous and important. The challenges were historical. It was a critical juncture for Greece and the Hellenic Police. It was a time when the prestige of the police force had been dealt a blow. It was a time of criticism and doubts. We were faced with a fluid, unpredictable security environment with risks and threats at both national and international level.
• At that time the Hellenic Police had only one choice:
  • To overcome stereotypes and adapt to new circumstances;
  • To overcome prejudices and respond to new requirements;
  • To overcome well-established habits and fall into line with new developments;
  • To overcome irregularities and develop new procedures.
• The Hellenic Police was called upon to overcome these obstacles so as not to be overtaken by developments. In effect it was called upon to transform itself.

Not as an institution but in terms of focus,

Not in terms of its mission but rather in terms of its philosophy,

Not in terms of action rather in terms of strategy, and

Not in terms of structure, rather in terms of perception.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

• These four points form the dividing line. They signify what the new police force is all about; the police force which achieved much.
• I will refer to some of the major achievements; achievements of particular importance not just for the Hellenic Police but also for Greece overall; achievements which bolstered our country`s prestige and how it is viewed internationally.
• Let me mention the major defeat of domestic terrorism; to the break up of the terrorist organisations 17th November and ELA. This was a major success which changed the history of Greece. In effect it released Greece from being a type of hostage. It released society from an outdated obscurantism.
• Let me also mention the successful hosting of the Greek Presidency of the European Union in a climate of absolute safety and security. This was a venture of unfamiliar extent, requiring immense resources and was in effect a forerunner of the major success which was to follow.
• The safe hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This was a success of utmost importance for the mankind if one considers that these were the first Games held after the appearance of asymmetrical threats such as 11th September, Bali, Moscow, Istanbul and Madrid; the first Games held after the emergence of the new fears which gripped the international community.
• The added value generated by this success was that:
  • Greece kept the timeless message of the Olympic Games alive and strong; the message of peaceful co-existence of peoples and nations; the Games as a meeting place for values and cultures; the hope for a better world; for a better tomorrow.
  • The Greeks once again confirmed that acting together they can achieve much. That is because we all participated in the national effort. Because together we kept the flame of the Games burning bright; the Police, Fire Brigade, Coast Guard, Army and citizens all together.
  • The Hellenic Police came to the fore and shone. Its new total security dogma was highlighted as was the cross-sectoral partnership model which was designed and implemented, while internationally it was shown to be a capable, effective, and highly professional police force. In effect the Hellenic Police proved its worth and its efforts were vindicated. The expectations of Greek people were fulfilled and the Police was vindicated in their eyes.
• These major events, these major achievements constitute a legacy for the Hellenic Police. They are a major legacy with a great responsibility.
• However, I would like to point out that we did not simple rise to the major challenges alone. We moved forward in all fields. Of course, I am not claiming that everything we set out to do was achieved. However, many important things were achieved in many sectors.
• Much was achieved in the crime-fighting sector and in terms of improved security conditions in Greece; in combating crime and improving the police`s effectiveness; in terms of the organisational and operational modernisation of the Force; in terms of staff training and education; in terms of the procurement of state-of-the-art equipment; in terms of use of advanced technology and know-how; in terms of international and regional partnerships; in terms of improving the position of police officers as employees; and in terms of resolving staff demands and problems.
• However, more important were the trust and partnership developed with citizens. Relationships based on trust and partnership were forged every day. Personally speaking, I consider this to be our greatest achievement. It is the new face of the Hellenic Police. It is a dimension which has expanded our capabilities, maximised our effectiveness and has added to the sense of security felt by citizens.
• I would like to point out that everything mentioned above was as a result of a major effort. An effort which was based on determination, a methodical approach, belief in what we were doing, discipline, and above all on hard, systematic work; the hard, systematic work of all of us at all levels and all ranks of the Hellenic Police.
• I do not consider it necessary to go into my own personal contribution to this major effort. Nor do I consider it necessary to evaluate my own personal role in achieving this result.
• However, I would like to point out the contribution, the role of the Police in Greece and its citizens. That is because this role captures the reality of the situation we all experience now on a day-to-day basis.
• The reality of the situation is that:
• Today Greece is one of the safest countries in the world with the lowest crime rates not only among European countries but also internationally.
• Today the Hellenic Police is not thought of simply as a crime suppression and prevention mechanism but as a substantive parameter in ensuring the problem-free political, social, economic and cultural life of Greece.
• Today society does not view the Police as a social necessity but as an important player in ensuring problem-free social cohesion and co-existence.
• Today citizens are at our side, supporting our efforts. They acknowledge the work we do. They trust the Police. They realise that the presence and activities of the Police are necessary to improve the quality of their life.
• Today more than ever police officers feel proud of the institution they represent, of the Force they serve.
• We have a police force which I have repeatedly said has increased capabilities but also much greater responsibilities.
• It is a police force once again called upon to confirm that it can rise to meet the expectations all of us have of it. That it can move even further ahead. I am fully convinced that the present-day police force can do this.
• It can ensure and improve security conditions in Greece.
• It can upgrade its role and presence. It can develop modern form of crime-fighting and collective action. It can further deepen its relationship with society.
• It can expand its partnership with citizens. Its reputation can be bettered in the mind of ordinary people.
• It can continue structural reorganisation and modernisation. It can improve its statutory framework and organisational operations.
• It can develop a new applied strategy dogma for security at national level.
• It can utilise the Olympic security model that everyone is talking about today at global level, offering its experience to other countries organising major sporting events.
• It can transmit its experience and know-how beyond national borders to international efforts to bring stability to hot spots and vulnerable regions.
• It can bolster partnerships at European and international level by promoting strategies to combat new forms of crime.
• It can establish a new model of partnership and police diplomacy with the Balkan and SE European countries to jointly deal with security issues.
• In effect it can transform itself into a force for regional stability in the wider area. It can become a powerful force benefiting Greece in its international relations.
• The Hellenic Police can and should achieve these objectives. These constitute its future strength. A strength that expresses the will of all of us.
  • The will of the State for Greece to continue to be a safe and secure country, in a climate of stability, growth and development.
  • The will of citizens to continue to live in a safe and secure environment, in a society based on cohesion and prosperity.
  • The will of the police officers themselves to continue to feel pride, in a police force with vision and prospects.
• Turning now to the new Hellenic Police Chief, I would wholeheartedly like to wish you every success in this difficult task you have assumed. Let me wish you the best of health and the best of luck.

Dear Chief,

I know your abilities and I am certain that you will manage things perfectly.

At this point I would also like to thank all my colleagues in the police force. I have no hesitation in saying that it was my honour to be their Chief. This honour is reflected in the values and ideals which together we defended and served. These values and ideals do not end with retirement. They do not end with resignation. They are with us everywhere. They follow us at all times.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In conclusion permit me to use a few words from General Makrigiannis as an epilogue, to express my feelings at this point in time because my own vocabulary is too poor to capture them:

«Δοξάζω τον Θεόν οπού δεν μου σήκωσε την ζωή μου και ευκαριστώ και την πατρίδα μου οπού με τίμησε βαθμολογώντας κατά την τάξη, κατά τις περίστασες, ως τον βαθμόν του στρατηγού και ζω ως άνθρωπος μ` εκείνο οπού ευλόγησε ο Θεός χωρίς να με τύπτη η συνείδησή μου, χωρίς να γυμνώσω κανέναν ούτε μίαν πιθαμή γης.»