Previously already “stained” employees of the State Police have recently further disgraced their uniform by behaving inadequately while intoxicated and making threats, said Raitis, a resident of Jelgava, against whom these police officers acted, in the program “Bez Tabu” (TV3).
“I was already asleep, and I see a call from some number. I answered. At first, there were select curses — you’ll get it, you pig! I hung up at first. When they called a second time, I said that I wasn’t interested in such anonymous calls. They initially used someone else's data, then said — okay, I’m Gatis Skruzmanis,” said TV3 Raitis.
The caller after one o'clock in the morning, Gatis Skruzmanis, is an employee of the State Police working in Jelgava. Raitis interrupted the conversation, but later Skruzmanis, clearly inebriated and holding a glass in the frame, continued his nighttime “entertainment” — he made a video call.
Raitis didn’t hesitate and recorded the conversation. An important fact: Raitis, who was awakened in the middle of the night, is a victim in a criminal case. Skruzmanis tried to ask him about this case.
“He called about the case in which I am a victim. At first, it seemed like one person, but I heard voices in the background — there was also the procedural supervisor for my case, who was prompting what to say,” clarified Raitis.
In the company of revelers, besides Skruzmanis, there was police officer Kristians Grudulis, whom Raitis knows less well — he also appeared in the frame in a state of intoxication.
Also off-camera was police officer Sandijs Bečis. Previously, Bečis had unjustifiably detained Raitis and, possibly trying to protect an acquaintance — a local entrepreneur — fabricated a criminal case against him. It later turned out that Raitis was a victim in that case, which was acknowledged by the person whom the police officer tried to protect, and now sanctions have been applied to him. Bečis himself faces problems for misconduct. He is interested in obtaining information and influence, and it is precisely under his instructions that Skruzmanis behaved in the video call, claims Raitis.
A resident of Jelgava is outraged — where did law enforcement get his data and phone number?
According to him, the data was obtained from the case materials, and during the video call, accompanied by swearing and alcohol, the police officers mentioned his address and hinted at a possible unfriendly visit.
“They were trying to extract information for themselves or intimidate me so that I would drop the case,” says Raitis.
The group of police officers seriously disgraced themselves when they thought they had muted the video call. Skruzmanis and Bečis were dissatisfied with the outburst of aggression from their less experienced colleague Grudulis, which interfered with their true goal — to extract information from Raitis.
The main character of the nighttime incident, Skruzmanis, had already come under the scrutiny of “Bez Tabu” in 2018 when he drove into a ditch. Eyewitnesses reported at that time that he was heavily intoxicated, however, the police unit that arrived dispersed the witnesses, did not take statements, did not register the accident, and did not conduct an alcohol test. It is possible that Skruzmanis and Bečis, “covered” by colleagues, also behaved inappropriately on duty.
Journalists from “Bez Tabu” attempted to find the police officers who disgraced their uniform, but they were unable to meet them in person. However, they managed to contact one of the participants of that night — Gatis Skruzmanis. According to him, he either forgot or did not know that even off-duty one cannot tarnish the honor of a police officer.
“Did I introduce myself as a police officer? I never said anywhere that I am a police officer. Robert (the journalist), are you calling to educate me? Does the ethics of a law enforcement officer prohibit making phone calls? What’s the problem? I say again — I did not introduce myself as a police officer. I did not start the conversation with ‘hello, this is such-and-such police officer.’ If I had called from a work number, during work hours… Why do they always try to link this to me being a police officer? I called as a private individual. I had a private conversation; I was not warned that I was being recorded and would be published in the media,” stated Skruzmanis.
Attempts to reach another participant of the nighttime incident, police officer Sandijs Bečis, after the conversation with Skruzmanis were unsuccessful.
The head of the Zemgale Regional Department of the State Police, Indulis Bligzna, called the incident unethical behavior by the officers. In connection with the incident, a service check has been initiated, as well as administrative proceedings.
After the intervention of “Bez Tabu,” the police's reaction became stricter — previously, Raitis received a response stating that no disciplinary violation was observed, only a note on the violation of ethics was made. Now, however, the police officers face disciplinary punishment and administrative responsibility for disturbing the peace.
Raitis insists that they should also be held criminally liable, which would exclude them from the ranks of law enforcement. He emphasizes that in the video call, the police officers discussed his address and used the phone number obtained from the case materials, where he is listed as a victim, and also threatened and possibly tried to influence him.
The Internal Security Bureau, which investigates possible crimes by police officers, had already informed Raitis before the intervention of “Bez Tabu” that it saw no grounds for assessing the situation within the framework of a criminal process.
