News

Jelgava Municipal Police officers, Patrol Police Division inspectors Gints Burba and Andrejs Endzenbergs, have returned from Jelgava’s sister city Carmel in the USA. They spent two weeks working alongside Carmel police officers, gaining insight into their daily operations.

The inspectors worked for two weeks with the Patrol Division officers of the Police Department, responding to calls, stopping vehicles, and participating in training sessions with the K-9 unit. They also visited the county jail and were involved in other activities related to daily police work, as well as enhancing their knowledge through theoretical and practical training provided by Carmel Police Department employees, including the use of tasers, safety regulations, and hand-to-hand combat techniques.

‘This was a very valuable trip – we gained new practical and theoretical knowledge that we can apply in our daily work at Jelgava Municipal Police. We acquired new experience in police communication during call-outs, interactions with drivers when stopping vehicles and checking documents, as well as practical skills in organizing the detention of individuals who have committed thefts in private properties,’ said Jelgava Municipal Police Inspector G. Burba.

It should be noted that during the exchange, the Jelgava Municipal Police officers also participated in a reception hosted by the Mayor of Carmel and, together with their American colleagues, attended the opening of the new Police Department building. Following this visit, representatives of the Carmel Police Department have reiterated their desire to continue the successful collaboration, which allows police officers from both cities to gain new knowledge and skills. It is expected that representatives from the Carmel Police Department will soon visit Jelgava Municipal Police as part of the exchange program.

So far, four Jelgava Municipal Police officers have participated in the exchange in Carmel, USA, while two Carmel police officers were hosted in Jelgava last September.

The police exchange program is one of the initiatives resulting from the cooperation agreement between Jelgava and Carmel, developed by the Honorary Consul of Latvia in Indiana (USA) and President of the Carmel-Jelgava Friendship Committee, Andris Bērziņš.