Latvia police chief suggests removing service pensions for officers guilty of intentional crimes
Armands Ruks, head of the Latvian State Police, has proposed that police officers who commit intentional crimes should be denied their service pension. He made the call on Friday in an interview with TV3's “900 Seconds”.
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The Latvian State Police chief, Armands Ruks, said on Friday in an interview with TV3's “900 Seconds” programme that police officers who commit intentional crimes should have their service pension rights removed.
His proposal is aimed at officers who deliberately break the law. In his view, such employees should not continue to receive a benefit that is normally associated with a completed police career. The pension should be a reward for honest service, not a guaranteed payment for everyone who has ever worked for the force.
If implemented, the measure would mean that an officer found guilty of an intentional offence would lose both the job and the long-term financial benefits tied to it. Ruks's statement reflects a tough approach to misconduct among police staff.
The initiative has not yet been turned into a formal piece of legislation. Ruks expressed the idea during a morning television interview, and it remains a proposal rather than an official bill. His comments could prompt a wider debate on police accountability and pension rules.
