Police Officers Expanding in Shirak and Lori: Service Enhancement

The Police Service in Armenia is expanding. Soon, a new quality service will be available in the Shirak and Lori regions. A recruitment-competition has been announced for these two regions. Additionally, as of July 7, the number of active police officers in Yerevan will increase. 

During a press conference, Amalya Hovsepyan, the Coordinator-Advisor for International Legal Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, noted that the process is progressing in phases. Soon, the new service will be implemented in other regions as well.

"As you know, the new Police Service started on July 7 in Yerevan. Currently, about 700 police officers are serving in the capital. The Police Service will also begin in other regions of Armenia. The next phase will be conducted in the Shirak and Lori regions, and after 8-9 months, a new service will be available in those areas," said Amalya Hovsepyan.

A competition for 570 positions has already been announced. For the Shirak region, 257 positions are allocated, of which 77 are for female candidates. For the Lori region, 258 positions are allocated, of which 77 are for female candidates. In Yerevan, 55 new positions have been allocated for reinforcements, of which 16 are for female candidates. Interested individuals can submit their documents to the Police Training Center starting from July 26. The competition phase will conclude in October, and from November 1, candidates will undergo five months of training, which will be held at the Police Training Center.

Misak Markosyan, the Deputy Head of the Police Training Center, stated that active participation from candidates is anticipated. "For the first intake of the Police Service, a competition was announced for 770 positions. We had around 2,500 applicants. That is, three candidates vied for each position. It is expected that such activity will be observed this time as well. The conditions for civil applicants are as follows: citizens of Armenia aged 18-35 who have at least a general secondary education can apply. Applicants will undergo a health examination. The entrance examinations will consist of three phases: physical fitness assessment, general development evaluation, and a professional suitability test using a computer-based format, followed by an interview during which the psychological profile and development level of the candidates will be assessed. Those scoring the highest points will be ordered as trainees," said Misak Markosyan.

What makes this field attractive to young people, and what draws them in? According to Misak Markosyan, the main factor is being part of the new symbol of reform in the police service, as well as social guarantees such as competitive salaries, material and technical resources, and so on.

Regarding the expected salary for police officers, Arthur Umrshatyan, Head of the Police Service of Armenia, did not rush to provide details. He reminded that work began in early July and the first salaries have not yet been distributed. "Salaries are transferred at the end of the month. At this moment, it would not be appropriate to provide exact figures, as the amount may vary due to different factors, such as experience, position, and so on. However, I can vaguely state that the minimum salary will be 230,000 drams," he noted.

Arthur Umrshatyan emphasized that while the salary aspect is important, the motivation of the staff is at such a high level that no one has raised the issue of how much their salary will be.