An incredible incident happened in Kos, a few days ago, when two police officers took the initiative to “patch” a pothole on the road fact that according to ta local media, provoked the reaction of the South Aegean Regional Governor, while at the same time a sworn administrative examination was ordered.

As reported by Kosnews24.gr, the puddle where it was located on the provincial road of Kos-Choriohad been reported to the competent services repeatedly by citizens and traffic police as accidents had occurred and vehicles had been damaged.

Watch the video published by vimatisko.gr:

According to vimatisko.gr, a few days ago the Police had received dozens of calls from citizens about the potholes in Mesaria (in the District network), given that over 10 vehicles were damaged within two days.

Police after complaints of citizens were in the area and decided to take action. They stopped a passing concrete mixer and asked the driver to pour some concrete. They themselves helped by taking the shovel and temporarily closing the dangerous potholes.

See photos published by vimatisko.gr:

However, the initiative of the police caused reactions. On the one hand, many inhabitants of the island praised them for their willingness, while on the other, some considered that the limits of their powers had been exceeded.

The regional governor of South Aegean, Mr. Giorgos Chatzimarkoswith his post on social media, criticized the attitude of the men of the Traffic, with him wondering in his text if “an act of “self-righteousness” can ever be an act of responsibility?

See the post of the District Governor:

“Take a picture” they say with foresight “Police who stopped a concrete mixer to plug potholes”, as the news reports about the uniformed men who took the shovel in their hands to carry out road work like regular members of a technical crew. These police officers chose Self-Justice to address a problem that, in their view, the state had not resolved quickly enough, sending the message that anyone who is in trouble and does not find an immediate solution from the state should take matters into their own hands, perhaps even and unlawfully, in his hands. And of course, don’t forget to photograph and videotape his act!
What do the police officers who wanted “photos” of their action tell us? Since the state won’t fix the pothole, we’ll fix it ourselves. But I wonder, can an act of “self-righteousness” ever be an act of responsibility? And even from uniformed public officials?
When policemen close potholes with shovels, roughly and arbitrarily and without any markings on the road network, what should citizens who are victims of robbery do? Should they also take the “shovel” in their hands? We, for example, in the Region, would be more “responsible” if we responded to the barrage of cable sabotage and theft that we had for 1.5 years and over a length of more than 6 km on the road network under our jurisdiction, by going out on patrols ourselves and proceeding with arrests suspects, because the Police did not, in our opinion, do their job as quickly and efficiently as we wanted?
Yes, the relationship between the police and citizens can be improved, but do some people really think that this can be done by teaching self-justice as a solution?
The uniform as well as the public office carry responsibility, require prudence.
Any “vacuum” in the state, which may be real, does not justify arbitrary action by anyone, let alone a uniformed police officer. By the way, the “gap” in this case lasted a few hours, as the district’s non-existent reflexes and “incompetent” officials sent the contractor to fix it, which he did within the same day. He didn’t take a picture.
Behind every image and video is primarily content, and that content is slippery. So do potholes need attention? Yes, some even more than usual because they are more dangerous and can pull us all deeper into their ephemeral embrace.
PS: Yes, I will agree that we are not perfect. To my colleagues who suggested that we not comment on anything, I replied that politics is not compatible with silence and that everyone’s work deserves respect. And the work of the security forces, which we trust, understand and honor with our work and our cooperation, every day.
We thank the newspaper “To Vima tis Kos” for the video and photographic material posted on its website”.