Russia to end extraordinary police reclassification

MOSCOW, August 1 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia will end an extraordinary
police reclassification that heralds the end to the first stage of the
police reform.
The police reclassification lasted five months. Some 1,545
reclassification committees of various levels were formed along with the
central reclassification committee.
Some 21 police high officers failed to pass the reclassification.
Some 327 police officers were promoted to high ranks, including 73
officers in the way of rotation.
Under the new police law the commanders of the police units can occupy
their posts not more than five years and then should be transferred to
other posts under the police staff rotation.
Under the police rotation campaign First Deputy Interior Minister
Mikhail Sukhodolsky, Deputy Interior Minister Yevgeny Shkolov and Deputy
Interior Minister and the chief of the Investigation Committee under the
Interior Ministry Alexei Anichin were dismissed. Lieut. Gen. of Police
Alexander Gorovoy was appointed as first deputy interior minister. He
occupied the post of the police chief in the Stavropol Territory before.
Sukhodolsky was appointed as the police chief in St. Petersburg and the
Leningrad Region. This was the most unexpected appointment.
Valery Kozhokar (the police chief in the Central Federal District
before this) was appointed as the chief of the Investigation Committee
under the Interior Ministry. Gen. Igor Alyoshin was appointed as the chief
of the Interior Ministry's operative division.
Under the police reform the law on social guarantees for policemen was
enacted. The monthly remuneration of a police lieutenant will make no less
than 33,000 roubles starting from 2012 and 42,000-45,000 roubles with
bonuses. The pensions to the retired policemen will be increased and their
housing problems can be settled. All 7,500 retired police officers not
involved in office abuse crimes will receive some aid.
The Interior Ministry structure was changed, some departments were
renamed and some others turned in major departments. The Investigation
Committee under the Interior Ministry was reorganized in a department.
However, no separate organized crime security department was formed,
though there was much talking and reporting about it.
The numerical strength of central police units should be cut from
19,970 people to 10,000 people.
All search departments, which were subordinate to the Interior
Ministry central staff, were granted the status of territorial bodies
operating at the interregional level. OMON, OMSN and SOBR special police
forces also turned in territorial bodies.