Crime suspect Jari Aarnio claims he is still head of Helsinki drug police

Police commander Riikonen disagrees

Jari Aarnio

Raimo Paakkala

Jukka Riikonen

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Jari Aarnio, who has served as the head of the Helsinki drug police, has returned to work from sick leave, along with other members of the drugs unit who are suspected of committing crimes while on duty.
     Members of the unit are suspected of having routinely turned a blind eye to crimes committed by their informers in the criminal underworld.
     Aarnio and the command of the Helsinki police gave differing answers on Wednesday to the question of who is in charge of the drug squad.
     Aarnio says that he is in control of the drugs unit, whereas Helsinki Police Commander Jukka Riikonen says that the Raimo Paakkala is currently in charge.
     
About 20 drug police in Helsinki, or more than half of the investigators on the squad, went on sick leave for burnout in December. This happened after they were told of a criminal investigation into the activities of their unit.
     Seven police officers are suspected of deliberate malfeasance. The investigation is being headed by State Prosecutor Ari-Pekka Koivisto.
     Most of those on sick leave came back to work before the new year. A few officers remain on leave.
     
Jari Aarnio says that he returned to work on Monday, and that he has discussed the matter with commander Riikonen. "He has not seen any reason why I should not come back to the job that I was doing before my sick leave", Aarnio said.
     Asked if he feels that he is the head of the Helsinki police unit, Aarnio says that nobody has told him otherwise. "Naturally, we can share tasks internally with others. For instance, if I feel that I have a conflict of interest, I can hand the task over to my substitute", Aarnio says.
     Aarnio's substitute, Raimo Paakkala, says that he agreed with the leaders of the police force that he will act as head of the drugs unit, in spite of Aarnio's return. Paakkala did not want to comment on Aarnio's present job description.
     Police commander Riikonen confirms that Paakkala, and not Aarnio, is now the acting head of the drugs unit. However, neither Aarnio nor the other suspects, have been relieved of their duties during the investigation.
     "We do not have precise information on how serious the suspicions of crime are. When we get detailed information, we will think about possible action", Riikonen says.
     
The head of the investigation, State Prosecutor Koivisto, says that he has kept Riikonen and the Supreme Police Command informed about key aspects of the preliminary investigation.
     In the future Koivisto plans to report on the progress of the investigation only to the Supreme Police Command, which can decide on what information to pass on to the Helsinki police.
     "So far we have interrogated witnesses. We will start questioning the suspects in the near future", Koivisto says.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Drug squad members suspect "informers" were from national police unit (19.12.2007)
  Helsinki police commander demands immediate launch of investigation into drug police activities (17.12.2007)
  Interior Ministry and police administration deny drug squad claims of persecution (11.12.2007)
  Drug police sick-leaves encumber investigations of serious drug crimes (10.12.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat