Police Service: New Challenges and the Role of a Combat Medic

The senior lieutenant of police began his career in 2015. Choosing the profession of a police officer was a conscious decision for him: since childhood, he dreamed of becoming a law enforcement officer, inspired by his older brother, who also serves in the police.

Over ten years, Edward served in various police units, including security, patrol, and criminal investigation. The full-scale invasion by russia found him in the role of an operational officer in Odesa.

«I remember how the situation in the city escalated from the very first days. Our work focused on identifying and detaining sabotage groups and solving serious crimes that had never occurred on such a scale before. For instance, once my colleagues and I detained a group of armed individuals wearing masks who were trying to smuggle a cache of weapons into a hotel in downtown Odesa. We acted quickly and decisively - otherwise, it could have ended in tragedy», he recalls.

In 2023, Edward joined a police unit from Odesa that was deployed to the liberated city of Kherson. There, he patrolled the streets, identified enemy groups, and assisted in evacuating civilians.

«We often had to work under enemy fire. While we got used to it, it was still frightening, especially when evacuating large families, as we didn't know if we could get everyone to safety in time», he shares.

The following year, Edward decided to join a police battalion as a combat medic.

«Among all the areas of work, medicine interested me the most. Now it serves as a tool for saving lives in wartime», notes the senior lieutenant.

The 28-year-old operative underwent necessary training and became a combat medic, also teaching his comrades tactical medicine: from theory to practice. Mastering tourniquets and bandages is key to survival in combat conditions.

When asked what this war means to him as a police officer, Edward replies:

«It's the same service, just on a different front. A police officer is always about protection: once we caught criminals, now we hold back the enemy. The task remains unchanged - to be where we are needed the most».