Despite severe diseases, police hold guns in their belt: No one told me to deliver it.

Although, because of their state of health, they are unable to carry out their daily police duties and do not go out on the ground, they carry their weapons with them.

But are those weapons dangerous to the police themselves or to others? Faithful Peci, clinical psychologist and social and family services provider, is afraid to do so.

He points out that under circumstances when a person faces serious health problems, gun ownership should not be allowed, since it can pose a serious danger not only to the person holding it but also to his family and society as a whole.

In such situations, it is extremely dangerous to allow access to weapons for people with serious health problems, be they organic, emotional or psychological. I believe that even in the slightest case of suspicion of emotional, or psychological concern, the employee should immediately submit to a professional assessment and support”, Peci points out.

Despite the risk, no incident in the use of firearms has been reported in Kosovo so far by police officials on medical leave.

Unofficially, sources within the Kosovo Police tell Radio Free Europe that police on vacation are not required to hand over the weapon, as their supervisors feel regret.

“We understand that they are going through a difficult period and we do not want to exert additional pressure on them, taking something that has a great emotional and symbolic value for them”, a police official says.

He admits that there is the danger of the weapon being used harmfully when an official's health or psychological state deteriorates.

Officially, Kosovo Police have said only that the Health Services Directorate submits medical recommendations for the release of weapons and professional equipment only when medical reports show that such a thing can be problematic.

“Under emergency conditions, when the conduct of police employees poses a high risk to himself or others, then the supervisor has the right to take over the official equipment, the gun, and contact the psychology sector within the health department”, the Kosovo Police say.

The regulation for Kosovo Police operatives envisions the weapon being taken by police when they are suspended, arrested, temporarily suspended from work, health and psychic causes, as well as if they fail in receertification for the use of weapons.

In Albania, the State Police regulations determine that a police officer is taken away if he violates the rules for its use, when he is in a criminal process, when he is suspected of using it as a crime tool, or when he does not pass the test for the use of firearms.

In the United States, laws vary from state to state. Early this year, however, the three police officers in Detroit, Michigan, had taken up arms because they were estimated to risk harming themselves or anyone else. In this case, they were accused of domestic violence.

Clinical psychologist Besnik Peci highlights that the weapon is a tool of work and should remain so only as long as the police official is in active service.

“arma is part of the task and official responsibilities, but as the service ends, it cannot be treated as personal property. Just as uniform and official obligations leave after the completion of the service, the weapon must be treated the same way”, he concludes.

Berat, like many of his colleagues, has not been asked to hand over the gun. He says that such a thing would not be done even if he was required.

I didn't have it in the hospital, I had it all. No one told me to hand it over. I'm very worried about him and, as long as I'm alive, I don't give up”, he says.

In Kosovo, even retired police officers may seek to keep their official weapon even after leaving active service. The weapon would be allowed if they did not have health problems that would pose an obstacle.

The retired policeman must first make a request on which he is issued a permit to use the weapon for a certain period of time.

After the end of this period, however, he is obliged to adhere to the rules and procedures stipulated by the Law on Weapons, like any other citizen who owns a weapon with permission.

With the Law on Weapons, any person who has been with at least 21 years can ask permission to be equipped with weapons.

The applicant has to possess psychophysics ability and pass the theoretical and practical test for the use of the weapon. There should also be reliable reasons for the need for weapons and clean criminal backgrounds.

During the past year alone, 25 members of the Kosovo Police lost their lives as a result of serious illness. Kosovo police are allowed full-paid medical rest and compensation for costs for treatment and medical therapy that cannot be realised in the public sector.

In 2024, Kosovo police spent 183,000 euros covering medical expenses of seriously ill officials. / REL/Periscopi/