A former State Police officer, Aldi Bylyku, has reacted after the tragic event in Maliq, where police officer Enea Mekolli was killed, by publishing a long and strong testimony on the conditions in which, according to him, officers worked during operations to capture high-risk individuals.

In his testimony, the former police officer says he served at the Maliq Police Station from 2017 to 2021 and participated in several operations to capture Violand Braçellari. He claims that officers were often sent to the field with insufficient forces, without sufficient protective equipment and with limited logistical means.

According to him, interventions with the support of special forces such as FNSH or RENEA were rare, while most of the operations were carried out by employees of the local police station and other local structures. The former officer claims that in many cases the operational groups consisted of only a few police officers, with only one or two of them carrying automatic weapons, while the rest were equipped with pistols. He also confesses that the lack of vehicles and fuel directly affected the organization of the operations.

His testimony mentions specific cases where officers were ordered to stay in the field for days waiting for suspects, despite the high risk and lack of security measures. He also raises questions about the leaders of the State Police and the responsible institutions, demanding transparency on the operations conducted over the years, the number of officers involved, the equipment used and the real measures for their protection.

At the end of the reaction, the former police officer expresses condolences to the family of the deceased officer Enea Mekolli and wishes a speedy recovery to his injured colleague, while demanding radical changes in the law and regulations of the State Police. He declares that he is ready to give public testimony and confront any police leader who opposes his claims, insisting that the issues he has raised are real and known by many officers who have served in the field.

BYLYK'S REACTION
A tragedy that was expected...
Taking cue from the recent incident in Maliq, I'm taking a few minutes to show you how part of the dark side of the police system works.
I am not speaking to you as a citizen simply giving an opinion, but as a former police officer who has participated several times in the operations to capture Violand Braçellari. Regarding the specific event, I cannot speak about its circumstances because I do not know specifically how it happened and I do not want to deal with the words of portals, but I can tell you what I have experienced myself during my years of service.
I am writing this to represent the many police officers who are unable to speak publicly about the problems, stresses, dangers, and pressures they face every day.
I served at the Maliq Police Station from 2017 to 2021 and participated in several operations to capture this person. In most cases, the control groups consisted of 5-7 police officers, often without sufficient protective equipment (bulletproof).
Interventions with the support of the FNSH or RENEA were rare. Most of the operations were carried out by the Maliq Police Station agents, some agents of the Local Directorate and employees of the “Eagle” Force. The information about the dangerousness was endless and we all knew the dangerousness of the person we were looking for, but the orders were firm: “we had to go to the control”. (We had to play with death).
Often the group consisted of only one or two officers carrying automatic weapons, while the rest carried pistols. There were even cases when during field movements we took improvised sticks to protect ourselves from dogs, as the instructions were to avoid using weapons even in such situations.
One of the reasons why the operations were carried out with such few forces was the lack of logistical means because there was a shortage of fuel and it was given in limited quantities while the drivers' cars had important work. Often only one vehicle was used, which could even lack brakes. When we had two cars and 9-10 police officers, we considered ourselves lucky. (Drones were not even imaginable)
I'm just giving one example.
One day, together with four colleagues, we found some cannabis plants in a stream. We informed our superiors and the order was to stay there until evening, in the hope that the person who cultivated them would come (Violandi was expected). It was a verbal order only and we all knew that the risk was great. It happens endlessly in the police that orders are not written down because they are so skilled and magical that they leave no trace for their responsible.
For a few days, we served there in two groups of 4-5 police officers. I remember that my office colleague had just become a father to a daughter and had to be there because he had responsibilities because he covered that area.
Today, when I remember that situation, I realize that fate helped us a lot.
I also remember an instance when one of the new Land Rover Police vehicles arrived in the area. Instead of using it to facilitate the operation, they avoided entering the difficult terrain for fear of damage and scratches from the thorns that would ruin the beauty of the vehicle, and the officers were forced to continue a few more kilometers on foot.
Another case was when two of Violand's friends were caught after an operation, and my colleague and I received a reward from the director at the time, a full 10 liters of diesel. We were ashamed to go and get it at the gas station.
These are not stories I have heard, but situations I have experienced myself, and I feel sorry for myself and the other employees whose lives were worth a few cannabis plants.
Therefore, if transparency and accountability are required for the recent event, I think that some past issues should be verified and the head of the Police should provide transparent answers….
For the inspections that have been carried out over the years in the apartments and premises used by this person.
How many officers participated in these operations and what equipment did they use???
What security measures have actually been implemented for their protection???
Have the officers who participated in these operations ever been asked about the difficulties and dangers they faced?
Why hasn't the Maliq Municipality taken measures to demolish this person's building while they should have crucified the common people who built a wall without a permit????
The answers to these questions are found in the files and, above all, with the police officers themselves.
Perhaps it took the pain of a mother and family for Albanians to hear a small part of what many police officers have experienced for years in silence and continue to suffer at the hands of incompetent and sworn party leaders.
I had a friend and colleague, Edison Mekolli, Enea's brother, whom a terrible disease took prematurely at the peak of his youth and for whom the State Police did not help with any treatment, simply handed him over to his bad fate.
I also had a friend and colleague, Enean, with whom I worked in the traffic sector, but strangely, the managers would transfer him from time to time without any concrete reason.
May the earth be light, my friends!
However, I am trying not to go on too long because the words about the dark stories and sacrifices of police officers are endless because there is endless to tell. I cannot pretend that my words will be heard by the Director of the Albanian State Police or anyone else in high positions who can do something different because this never happens, but I cannot remain silent about the injustices that have been done to my colleagues, which are more than people's imagination.
Once again, condolences to Enea's family and a speedy recovery to Edison Adrit! 🙏
Respect and gratitude to every police officer who is the invisible and silent heroes of the Albanian people.
God bless them!
PERSONALLY, I THINK A RADICAL CHANGE IS NEEDED IN THE REGULATIONS AND LAW OF THE ALBANIAN STATE POLICE.
Note: I am willing to publicly discuss my experience and confront any of the leaders who have been in Korca and there may be claims that these things did not happen, I am also willing to provide more information if requested by the relevant institutions.
My dream, inherited from my father and grandfather, was to be a police officer, but... in Albania, dreams are left in the middle...