Solo patrols connect two Finnish police investigations

Two Finnish police officers facing serious criminal suspicions were working alone when they became involved in separate incidents, Yle reports. One officer forced a young moped rider off the road in Tuusula, while another pointed a pistol at a man in Tampere.

In Tuusula, the officer was alone in an unmarked police car when he cut off the moped rider. Videos reviewed by Yle show dozens of angry young people quickly gathering at the scene, shouting as the officer detained the rider.

The situation was further complicated when the officer dropped an object that strongly resembled a conducted energy weapon. He retrieved it quickly, but the incident could have developed differently, Yle’s verification team found.

The officer involved in the Tuusula incident is suspected of aggravated endangerment of health and several other offences. The officer who pointed a weapon at a man in Tampere is suspected of making an unlawful threat. Both officers are also suspected of violating their official duties.

It has not been established whether either officer committed a crime. That will ultimately be decided by a court. Both officers have nevertheless been transferred to other duties, at least temporarily.

Two-person patrols are the rule

Police patrol in pairs as a rule, primarily for occupational safety. Officers may sometimes patrol alone, for example when there are not enough personnel.

Even an officer working alone remains in constant contact with colleagues in supervisory roles and can request assistance. The officer at the scene is nevertheless ultimately responsible for their own actions.

There is a significant difference between having one or two officers physically present when a dangerous situation develops. Police encounters can unfold quickly and unexpectedly, leaving little time to make decisions.

In Tuusula, for example, there was no second officer present to order the approaching young people to keep their distance while the officer who had cut off the moped rider dealt with the incident.

Police officers can also help calm one another. A colleague’s presence can create a sense of security and may prevent excessive use of force. However, Yle’s MOT investigations have also shown that officers sometimes protect colleagues who have abused their positions.

Cases come during a sensitive period

The incidents have emerged as the Finnish police face heightened scrutiny over their public reputation. A person died on Friday, August 14, after police used a conducted energy weapon. Little is yet known about that case, and the officer who used the weapon is not currently suspected of any wrongdoing.

Nevertheless, the death may be linked in the public mind with the incidents in Tuusula and Tampere. Police chief Ilkka Koskimäki is due to appear on Yle’s A-studio to discuss recent events and the limits of police use of force.