In 2024 there will be 273 police officers injured, an increase of 127 percent. For Minister Piantedosi (pictured), who signed the book of interviews with Annalisa Chirico, Uniform Dalla parte delle, ed. Piemme, “it is unacceptable that even a police officer who performs both functions ends up being targeted by violent and violent troublemakers.” The owner of the Ministry of the Interior explained: “I really respect freedom of thought and demonstration, it is precisely for this reason that I believe that the boys who came to the procession with their faces covered and armed as if they were going to fight cannot be defined as protesters. They are people who are looking for confrontation with the police, their goal is this”. Piantedosi also recalled that there were situations where “the police were accused of violent acts, but often it was the operatives themselves who identified themselves to help ensure responsibility by eliminating the assumption that identification codes would be needed to identify the agents. An action taken by the left that I would never allow as long as I was minister – he underlined -. Not to defend those who did wrong but because I believe it can be turned into branding. Agents must be protected”.
The book also retraces the most high-profile news cases involving law enforcement officers impacted by judicial investigations while carrying out their jobs, and by violent crimes. Physically and morally injured.
A year has passed since the accident in which 19-year-old Ramy Elgaml lost his life while being chased by police. Two people are being investigated over the tragedy, the young man on the motorbike that fled with the 19-year-old on board – and the policeman driving the Gazelle. Chirico recalled media shaming of the military, tensions and the risk of further street violence. The case is still open, but the book cites the report of the engineer appointed by the Prosecutor’s Office, who speaks of the pursuit “in accordance with procedures.”
As recently as February, two police officers were injured by a hammer blow on the Ivrea-Santhià highway by a 26-year-old French man. The assailant was also injured by gunfire fired by one of the two officers hit, but was investigated for injuries aggravated by the use of a service weapon. And the carabiniere who on New Year’s Eve 2025 shot and killed Muhammad Sitta, a 23-year-old Egyptian who stabbed four passers-by at Villa Verucchio, was released after six months. “He acted correctly” was the conclusion of the Rimini prosecutor’s office who asked that Luciano Masini be dismissed. For the judge, police intervention was necessary and proportionate.
There is also the story of Deputy Inspector Giuseppe Sortino who was beaten by four people. “A brutal attack”, reported the Prosecutor’s Office, which culminated in police firing three shots at one of the attackers who died. The officer is being investigated for murder.
A year has passed since the death of Moussa Diarra, a 26-year-old Malian, as a result of gunfire fired by officer Polfer at Verona Porta Nuova station. Yang was investigated for murder, after months the prosecutor asked for him to be dismissed.
“What kind of society does a policeman use his service weapon
victim of the dual process, that of the judiciary and of public opinion?”, said Chirico. Who concluded: “Our uniforms need more strength, more guarantees. On their side, always.”
