Health report shock for over 2,500 police officers: 'My profession was taken from me in an instant, my life was turned upside down'

Hazal Güven - 12punto.com.tr

Thousands of police candidates who successfully passed the police entrance exams and completed months of rigorous training are being dismissed from the profession due to "not suitable" reports from the health board. The number of candidates whose employment was terminated an hour before graduation or months after starting duty is estimated to be around 2,500.

Candidates who successfully complete their training are being eliminated from the profession by health board reports despite having passed all previous stages. While some candidates are barred from the police force with a "not suitable for duty" decision just hours before their oath-taking ceremony, others are dismissed for the same reason after serving for months.

Candidates, who argue that health board reports are often prepared in an arbitrary manner lacking transparency, state that they are psychologically exhausted and have suffered significant financial losses.

'A 6-YEAR POLICE OFFICER WAS SUDDENLY DISMISSED'

One of those officers is E.V., who was dismissed from the profession while serving as a police officer for 1 year and 1 month after graduating from the academy with a score of 90. Recounting to 12punto what he and other police officers/candidates experiencing the same grievance have gone through, E.V. said, "The number is increasing. My employment was terminated last January. Some of our friends were dismissed a year ago. We have a friend who was dismissed while being a 6-year officer. They serve as a police officer for 6 years and then suddenly terminate their employment."

"I received training, I took courses on the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK) and the Constitution. I passed all 18 of my courses with a high degree, with a score of 90," says E.V., describing the grievance as follows:

"The health problems of the police officers experiencing this grievance are classified as 'b-category'. Health screenings are categorized into 'a-category' and 'b-category'. Police officers in the 'a-category' have no health problems. Those in the 'b-category' have health problems, but these are conditions that do not prevent them from performing police duties. We see that all the police officers currently experiencing this grievance are in the 'b-category'. For example, I am in the 'b-category', yes, but I have served for 1 year and 1 month."

"The real problem here is the system, in my opinion. The General Directorate of Security (EGM) admits the student but conducts the general health screening after they enter the school. The security investigation is the same," says E.V., continuing his words:

'WE ARE TREATED LIKE FETÖ MEMBERS'

"When we talk to people in an official setting or in general, they approach us with prejudice when we say we used to be police officers. When they hear we are former police officers, they immediately associate us with FETÖ. They approach us as if we are FETÖ members or have committed a disgraceful crime. This is very humiliating. It is as if we are associated with terrorism or any criminal organization. It hurts us.

I went to the police station to pick up a notification document for a job. I said, 'Good day, I am a former police officer. I was here to pick up my notification document.' He rightfully asked, 'Why was your employment terminated?' When I said it was a health issue, even he was surprised, despite not knowing the details of our grievance."

Stating that his "life was turned upside down," E.V. described what he went through after being dismissed from the profession:

'A PROBLEM OF FAIRNESS'

"I have only been able to work for a total of one month since my employment was terminated. I am currently unemployed. My case is ongoing; it has been moved to the Council of State, but I don't have much hope. The litigation process takes at least 2-3 years. I have enrolled in a security course for now, I said let me at least continue that way. So, as you can see, I am left in the middle of nowhere. My profession and my job were taken from me in an instant. My whole order was turned upside down. I got engaged a few weeks ago, I am preparing for a wedding. We have friends who have children and greater responsibilities. There are those who are forced to work in factories. We are all trying to continue our lives somehow. We went to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) a few weeks ago. We met with many members of parliament. We went to all the parties because this is a problem of fairness."

CITIZEN'S TAXES WASTED

Drawing attention to the money spent on the dismissed police officers, E.V. said:

"I received training at the school for 9 months. Let's say they ignore my effort. But what will be the burden of this on the state? If there is such a situation, I ate and drank for 9 months, fired bullets, was given uniforms, and had insurance paid. So, nearly 1 million [TL] was spent for each student. These expenses are covered by the taxes paid by the citizens."

'LET THE PRECEDENT LAW BE RE-ENACTED'

Reminding of the law passed in November 2023, E.V. listed the demands of the victimized police officers:

"A precedent-setting law was passed at the time. You passed this law in a short time. But we saw that a short-term measure was taken even though the grievance continued. It is obvious that we will not be able to return to the profession. The regulation needs to be changed, and they won't do it easily. But at least we want the precedent law to be re-enacted."

News Source: Hazal Güven