Confrontation at police office, while reporter takes notes - (insert) ripped traffic ticket

The young priest stormed into the Gouves Police Department room at town hall, angrily waving a yellow parking ticket in the air for all to see, including the reporters for The Khronicles, who were there to interview the newest members of the force.

 “Instead of warning the people and telling them they cannot park on sidewalks, you just start giving out tickets?” he shouted rhetorically to one of the municipality’s new cops.

When the female officer amicably intimated that the knowledge for not parking on sidewalks comes along with having a driving license, the red-faced priest hissed: “do not mock me, woman!” He then ripped up his ticket and threw it on the floor.

At that point, Kostas Martimianakis, who, as senior officer is sort of the local police chief, jumped up and joined the exchange, at first calmly trying to explain that before they wrote the summons they blew whistles for quite a while, and, in any case, “you should know better than parking illegally in such a dangerous place on the main street in Kokkini Hani.”

But the priest wasn’t having any of it, and, after a few more heated words, he strode out. (See editor’s note below).

“Well, I guess this is just the start of it,” Kostas said, shaking his head, with an expression that said he wasn’t looking forward to the next few weeks.

That was the scene on the first day of the newly-expanded police department’s effort to curb the multitude of illegally parked cars plaguing the township.

Officer Martimianakis said illegal parking is just one of immediate targets of the expanded force, but an important one, and he expects to get an immediate feedback since violators have been getting away with it for so long.

“The owner of the vehicle can state his reasons and appeal the ticket in person within the first three days, or pay within 10 days, in which case it will cost half of the 80 euro fine,” he explained. “After two months, if it is not paid, the ticket goes to the tax office where they have their own system of collecting from delinquent payers.”

 Mr. Martimianakis said another “high priority” item for the municipal police is to go after the culprits who illegally dump building materials and other refuse.

“We’ve already started observing the law breakers,” he maintains, “and we’ll make our move soon. Now that the municipal police force has tripled in size,” he added with a smile, “we’ll be getting this demos in much better order.”

The “chief” was referring to the fact that, after several years of the Gouves police being a “force of one,” as of July 1 two additional officers, Lia Markoglou and Anna Magaraki, were hired.

Lia, 29, studied economic district development in college, and has been on the force for two years.

“I wanted to be transferred to Gouves since I’m getting married in September and we’re building a home in the area,” she said.  “I believe the quality of life is better here. Sure, there are problems, but I plan to be instrumental in solving those problems.”  

Anna, also 29, is married and resides in Episkopi. She was a midwife for four years in an Iraklion Hospital before joining the police two years ago.

“I requested a transfer to Gouves, too, because things are mellower here,” she said. “The demos has some serious problems, but, because I comprise a third of the force, I feel I can personally make a difference.”

The new force in Gouves (left to right) officers Magaraki, Martimianakis and Markoglou

Now that there is a force of three, Mr. Martimianakis is trying to get an actual police car for the department.

 “We use the demos’ Ford Fiesta when it’s available, because we share it with other departments,” he said. “But it’s in the garage now for an overhaul. That’s why the three of us are sitting around the office instead of being out on the street combating lawlessness.”

The “chief” said his first wish is for a jeep with a cherry light on top and Gouves Municipal Police on the sides, so they can make a presence and start bringing some order to the inner villages.  

“Or we can take over the Ford Fiesta full time, or the mayor’s Mazda, which is the other demos car, as long as we can fix it with cherry light and lettering.”

However, even without its own vehicle, Gouves Police Department has issued a warning to all local law breakers – one that makes it clear that there’s a new “force” in town!

(Editor’s note: A short time later, Officer Martimianakis informed The Khronicles that the priest returned and apologized to everyone, saying that some kind of order is needed and he deserved the ticket – then calmly paid the 40 euros, half the total amount since it was being paid within the first 10 days).

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