Dombrava Initiates Disciplinary Investigation Against Police Chief Ruks
Latvian Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava has called for an internal investigation into State Police Chief Armands Ruks following a tragic incident in Priekule where a drunk off-duty policeman killed a man.
Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava (NA) has requested the initiation of a disciplinary investigation against State Police (VP) Chief Armands Ruks. In an interview on TV3's “900 sekundes,” the minister stated that the investigation will assess how work was organized and why similar incidents have recurred within days.
Following the tragedy in Priekule, where an off-duty drunk policeman killed a man during a brawl, Dombrava decided to introduce stricter alcohol control measures. All police officers who carry weapons and drive service vehicles will now be required to take alcohol tests every morning. The minister noted that such testing was not routine before – after the Priekule incident, explanations were requested from the Southern Kurzeme precinct, and responses indicated that tests were not regularly conducted.
Dombrava suggested that the disciplinary investigation into the Southern Kurzeme precinct could result in a change of its leadership. Currently, there are no significant updates in the case – the suspect is in custody, and the investigation has been taken over by the Internal Security Bureau (ISB). The minister emphasized that a police officer being in public with a blood alcohol level exceeding two promille is unacceptable under any circumstances.
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) commented on TV3 that the incident is unacceptable but does not indicate systemic problems or widespread drinking within the police force.
As reported, during the town festival in Priekule, a conflict erupted between several individuals, resulting in one man sustaining severe injuries and dying in an ambulance. The arrested individual is State Police junior inspector Andis Silnieks, who has been serving since September 2022 and had no prior disciplinary record. He claimed to investigators that he does not remember the event. The victim was a teacher and head of the fashion design program at Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School.
A criminal case has been initiated under Article 125, Section 3 of the Criminal Law – for intentional infliction of serious bodily harm resulting in death through negligence. The ISB has taken over the case due to institutional jurisdiction.
