Chief of Traffic Police reprimanded over last week's layoff statement

Emotions heat up among police leadership due to dispute over funding

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The announcement of possible layoffs among the National Traffic Police personnel was both premature and unfounded, and moreover, the funding problems of the Police are not to be solved by dismissals of staff.
      This was the conclusion of those heading the Ministry of the Interior, as they reprimanded the chief of the National Traffic Police Teuvo Veijalainen for his comments last week.
     
In addition to Veijalainen, the meeting - described as "serious and frank" - was attended by Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki, Supreme Police Commander Markku Salminen, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Ritva Viljanen.
      The purpose of the meeting was among other things to ascertain why Veijalainen, against regulations, gave a warning of possible staff dismissals because of lack of funding. According to Veijalainen, 660 workers were at risk of a temporary layoff.
      The leadership of the Interior Ministry was particularly irritated by the fact that Veijalainen raised the threat of dismissals even though a working group had already been named to discuss measures to rectify the situation.
      "Veijalainen was not authorised to threaten his own staff with almost a month's dismissals", said Salminen. "His conduct was merely to foment a rebellious mood."
      "The funding at hand cannot be the reason, but the uncontrolled hiring of staff without forward thinking", Salminen continued.
     
After the meeting, Veijalainen stated that at least he had been promised that the situation would be rectified. According to him, an additional EUR 1.5 million would be needed for this year.
      The Ministry feels that it is premature to draw final conclusions of this year's economic situation as a lot of the expenditure is still under consideration.
     
The working group looking into the Traffic Police finances are to deliver their proposal in less than two weeks.
      Rajamäki also affirmed that there are no plans to close down the Traffic Police.
      "Quite the opposite is true, the development of the Traffic Police is of the utmost importance. For one, we need to direct more recourses towards monitoring heavy goods traffic", Rajamäki explained.
      Veijalainen, on the other hand, may end up facing legal sanctions because of his action. This will be decided on later this week.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Interior Minister rejects suggestion of layoffs in Finland's Traffic Police (5.8.2005)

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