Public opinion remains in shock following the latest femicide in Drama, with Greek Police (ELAS) spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou addressing the psychological state of the perpetrator. In a television interview on ERTnews, Ms. Dimoglidou stressed that the case has sent shockwaves through the police force itself, as both the perpetrator and the victim were serving officers.
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Dimoglidou on the Drama femicide: “A disciplinary investigation is launched whenever a police officer is involved”
“We need to be clear about what information the police actually have in hand,” she noted, clarifying that up to this point no indication of any problems had come to the attention of the department. As she explained, neither of the two officers had given the service cause for concern, and there had been no complaint or report of any domestic violence incident. “The process is initiated automatically, even on the basis of a simple report — and when a police officer is involved, a disciplinary investigation is also launched,” she emphasized.
“The colleague had been attending sessions for at least three months”
Addressing the issue of the perpetrator’s psychological state, Ms. Dimoglidou explained that he and his wife had privately sought the help of a psychologist who happens to collaborate with the police, but without any official referral through the department. “The colleague had been attending sessions for at least three months, without the department being aware of this,” she said, adding that investigators are looking into whether there was also a referral to a psychiatrist or any prescribed medication. She made clear, however, that no information had ever been provided that would have justified taking measures such as confiscating his service weapon.
“They never gave their department any reason for concern”
According to the spokesperson, both officers were described as fully functional and consistent in carrying out their duties. “They never gave their department any reason for concern,” she said pointedly, noting that not even informal reports of problems in their home life had surfaced.
“Both regularly passed psychometric testing as required for armed officers”
Regarding the victim, Ms. Dimoglidou noted that she had previously requested a temporary transfer outside the regional unit for financial reasons, without mentioning any personal issues. However, according to sources close to the couple, they had been experiencing problems over the past year. “Both regularly passed the psychometric testing process, as required given that they carried firearms,” Ms. Dimoglidou stated, while also stressing that “here we are talking about a person who was regularly seeing a psychologist.”
“The crime was not committed with a service weapon”
Ms. Dimoglidou also addressed the fact that the crime was not carried out using a service weapon, despite the perpetrator being authorized to carry one. She further noted that due to medical confidentiality, details regarding the perpetrator’s mental state are not known, while pointing out that in cases involving risk, the treating physician is obligated to notify the relevant department.
“No warning signs had been given to the department that would have prompted a different response”
Responding to the broader concerns that have emerged, Ms. Dimoglidou conveyed the position of experts that the presence of psychological difficulties does not automatically imply an inability to perform professional duties. “A person can be dealing with problems and still be completely functional at work,” she said, underscoring that in this particular case “no warning signs had been given to the department that would have prompted a different response,” Ms. Dimoglidou added.
