Mayor of Argos defends police officers who shot dead 20-year-old: "Their remand is unnecessary"
In a social media post, the mayor of Argos-Mycenae, Giannis Maltezos, defended the two police officers who opened fire and killed a 20-year-old during a pursuit, describing their remand in custody as "unnecessary" and criticising the victim's mother.
Mayor of Argos defends police officers who shot dead 20-year-old: "Their remand is unnecessary"
The mayor of Argos-Mycenae, Giannis Maltezos, caused uproar with a social media post defending the two police officers who opened fire and killed a 20-year-old during a pursuit in his city.
In his public statement, Mr Maltezos expressed "absolute and sincere support" for the two police officers and their families, which, as he stated, "are suffering greatly". At the same time, he described the decision to remand the two men in custody as "unnecessary", arguing that the publicity the case received "weighed on" the decision-making of judicial officials.
The mayor argued that remand is an "extreme restrictive measure" applied when the defendant is suspected of fleeing or committing further crimes. "We are talking about two heads of household, two officers with over 20 years of honest service, without any shadow over their past. There was no prior connection with the victim, nor any intent. There was a moment of extreme tension in the field," he said.
Particularly pointed was the criticism he levelled at the young man's mother, whom he indirectly accused of allowing her son to drive recklessly despite the behavioural problems that, he said, he had. "When you know that a young person is facing such problems, how do you let him go out on the roads, driving recklessly and putting innocent citizens in immediate danger to their lives?" he asked.
Mr Maltezos also warned that if society "crucifies" police officers for every mishandling, the message it sends is "catastrophic": "We force them to become inactive. Tomorrow the thief will be inside our home, we will call the police and they will come after half an hour, simply to record what happened, because no one will risk putting their hand in the fire anymore," he stated characteristically.
Source: Naftemporiki
Source: Naftemporiki