Sutaj Estok Meets Police Officers Who Used Lethal Force on Attacker with Axe

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) met on Tuesday in Zilina with police officers, who used lethal force against an attacker brandishing an axe. The man, who had been threatening those around him for a long time, didn't survive the police intervention. "There are hundreds of such police officers in Slovakia, officers who carry out their work conscientiously and with honour, putting their lives on the line every day," said the minister. According to the minister, the recent tragic and inexcusable beating of a man to death by a police officer in Kosice cannot be allowed to create stereotypes and paint the police as monsters. At the same time, it cannot prevent the police from using force to protect others or when acting in self-defence. Sutaj Estok called for an end to the bullying of honest police officers. Last weekend, a police patrol in Zilina used a taser to disarm a man threatening others with an axe. The taser didn't provide sufficient stopping power, however, prompting the officers to pacify the man with the use of physical holds and handcuffs. The man lost consciousness during the intervention and failed to be resuscitated by the police and first-aid responders. mf/mcs