On the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Kosovo Police, former investigator and former instructor at the Academy for Public Safety in Vushtrri, Agim Rexhepi, spoke about the institution’s development and the challenges it faces.
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In an interview with “Bota sot,” Rexhepi recalled the early days of the Kosovo Police, describing the anniversary as a particularly significant moment in his life, memories and professional experience.
According to him, the 27th anniversary does not represent merely a calendar date, but is directly connected to the history of an institution he served with pride.
Rexhepi said that he was part of the Kosovo Police during the period when it had only just begun to be built. He wore its uniform and carried its responsibilities, and later served as an instructor at the Academy for Public Safety in Vushtrri, where new generations of Kosovo’s security personnel were educated and trained.
“When I look at the Kosovo Police today, I do not see it merely as an institution. I see it as part of the history we built together,” he said, adding that at the beginning there were not the conditions, experience and capacities that exist today.
He stressed that in the early years there were fewer resources, less infrastructure and less institutional experience, but the personnel possessed the will, courage, dedication and conviction that Kosovo should have its own professional police force and rule of law.
After 27 years, Rexhepi assesses the Kosovo Police as far more professional, stronger and better prepared than it was in the early days of its establishment.
However, he emphasized that the institution’s progress is measured not only by the number of police officers, equipment, technology or operational capacities. For him, the greatest achievement is the transformation of an institution that was taking its first steps into one of the main pillars of the Republic of Kosovo.
The former instructor said that it was once difficult to imagine that the Kosovo Police would reach the level it has achieved today, but the first generations had a clear goal: for the generations after them to inherit a better police force.
“The greatest pride of an instructor is to see the people he once taught, trained and prepared now serving in uniform and protecting citizens,” Rexhepi said.
He also highlighted the contribution of the first generations of the Kosovo Police, who worked under extremely difficult circumstances but carried a great historic responsibility on their shoulders.
According to Rexhepi, building a state is not done only through institutions written on paper, but also through people who are willing to sacrifice for it. The first members, he said, were not simply creating jobs, but building an institution of the Republic of Kosovo.
He called for all the men and women who have served in the Kosovo Police to be remembered with respect over the years, including those who are no longer among the living and, in particular, the officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
“Their sacrifice is not merely a memory; it is part of the foundations on which this institution stands,” the former investigator said.
Rexhepi stressed that the anniversary should also be an opportunity to reflect on current difficulties, rather than merely a day to celebrate achievements to date.
He warned that the Kosovo Police today faces greater and more sophisticated threats, including organized crime, trafficking, smuggling, cybercrime, terrorism, border security challenges and complex security situations.
Confronting these phenomena, he said, requires a police force that is constantly learning and developing. Courage is no longer enough; professionalism, police intelligence, technology, modern investigations, continuous training and international cooperation are needed.
“Above all, integrity must be preserved, because it is the foundation of the uniform,” Rexhepi emphasized.
He called for the Kosovo Police to remain free from political influence and individual interests, stressing that its members must serve the law, citizens and the Republic of Kosovo.
Addressing new members, Rexhepi said that the uniform is not merely official clothing, but represents citizens’ trust, the sacrifice of a generation and the dignity of the Republic of Kosovo. For this reason, it must be worn with pride and responsibility.
According to him, citizens should see police officers not only as authorities, but also as their protectors. A good police officer, he explained, is assessed not only by the force at their disposal, but also by the justice, professionalism and humanity they demonstrate in every situation.
Although he is now retired, Rexhepi said that his connection with the Kosovo Police has not ended, as it remains part of his identity. He was part of the institution in its early steps, served as a member and had the honor of contributing as an instructor in preparing new generations.
He expressed pride not only in what has been achieved, but also in the legacy left for the generations that followed.
“Twenty-seven years of the Kosovo Police represent 27 years of sacrifice, dedication, professionalism and pride. From the difficult early days to a modern institution of the Republic of Kosovo, this is a history that deserves to be told and respected,” Rexhepi said.
He reiterated that from the difficult early days to the creation of a modern institution of the Republic of Kosovo, this remains a story that must be told and honored.
In conclusion, Rexhepi congratulated all members of the Kosovo Police, former members and retirees, their families, and especially the families of those who gave their most precious loved ones for the freedom and the state enjoyed today, on the 27th anniversary.
