Demetrios Tsaknakis took command of Hellenic Police (photos)

The ceremony for the new Chief of the Greek Police, was held yesterday (15-04-2014) at the premises of the Academy of the Greek Police Officers in Acharnes Attica, with the presence of the Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection, Nikos Dendias. The Chief of the Greek Police, Lieutenant Dimitrios Tsaknakis, took over the leadership from the outgoing Chief, General of Hellenic Police and retired Nicholas Papagiannopoulos. At the event, speeches were delivered by the new Chief and from the outgoing, who were preceded by Metropolitan of Ilion, Acharnes and Petroupolis Athenagoras, who was assisted by the Archimandrite - Retired Major, Nektarios Kioulos. The event ended with a parade of candidate Inspectors.

The new leader thanked the leadership of the Ministry for the confidence shown in him and pledged that “we will try with all our might to fulfill duties towards society, citizens, police and homeland”. Addressing the staff of the Police, he stressed that he understands the economic difficulties that the country is going through and added he'll be next to the policeman “not only as a colleague and partner, but also as a friend and helper in daily service or not issues”. Simultaneously he asked everyone to be constantly alert to tackle crime. The outgoing leader referred to the work and priorities during his tenure, thanked all former ministers who trusted him and Dendias, who renewed this confidence and wished good luck to the new leader.

At the ceremony for the taking the Leadership of Greek Police the Secretary General for Public Order Athanasios Andreoulakos, General Secretary for Civil Protection Patroklos Georgiadis, Head of G.E.E.TH.A. General Michalis Kostarakis, Second Deputy Chief of Army General Staff Lieutenant Alexandros Economou as a representative of the Chief of the Army General Staff, Deputy Chief of GEN Admiral Panagiotis Pastouseas Navy as a representative of the Chief of Navy General Staff, Chief of G.E.A. Lt (I) Evangelos Tournas, Chief of the Coast Guard – Greek Coast Guard Vice Admiral Athanasios Athanasopoulos and the Chief of the Fire Department, Lieutenant Vasilis Papageorgiou attended. In terms of Greek Police the Deputy Chief Lieutenant Spyridon, Papaspirou, Chief of Staff of the Greek Police Headquarters Lieutenant Konstantinos Tsouvalas, Inspector General of the Border Protection Lieutenant Emmanuil Katriadakis, Inspector General of Security Lieutenant Elias Georgopoulos, Inspector of General Order Major General Dimitrios Sofios and other senior officers of the Greek Police attended. With their presence honored the ceremony representatives of judicial and prosecutorial authorities, representatives of local government, Honorary Senior Officers of the Greek Police, representatives of trade unions and associations, officials and police and civilian personnel of the Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection.