“I was sleeping with a service pistol”: The Šalčininkai police officer’s service was accompanied by constant danger

J. Kučynskis, a former long-serving police officer now practicing law, stated in an interview with Eltai that he believes the public was aware of potential cooperation between local law enforcement and smuggling activities within Šalčininkai. He noted that he had refrained from publicly addressing the matter despite his knowledge.

Kučynskis expressed significant reservations regarding the proposed practice of rotating personnel within the border region’s police force. He argued that such a rotation would prove costly and introduce unnecessary complications into the local security structure. According to the former officer, the immediate consequence of such a change would be a measurable decline in operational quality, potentially leading to broader social issues.

He further emphasized that the financial and resource allocation required to manage such a transfer would be excessive. The former police officer questioned the underlying goals of recent administrative shifts, suggesting that efforts aimed at diminishing Šalčininkai’s regional standing were evident. He pointed to the recent placement of officials—including the commissioner’s chiefs and prosecutors—who were sourced from Vilnius.

Kučynskis questioned the implications of these external assignments, asking whether the resulting governance structure would be truly localized or fundamentally altered. His comments highlight concerns about maintaining consistent, high-quality public service when the experienced officer corps is subject to frequent reassignment.

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