Photo of a cadet near the body of a dead girl: Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs responded to the incident
A photo of a smiling cadet of the Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs near the body of a deceased 14-year-old girl during search operations caused sharp indignation among Ukrainians on social networks, since for many this frame became evidence of the future law enforcement officer’s cynical attitude towards someone else’s tragedy. In a situation where participants in the search for a missing child are expected to be collected, tactful and humane, the appearance of such a photo inevitably caused a sharp reaction, because it is about the line beyond which moral decline begins.
Society expects future law enforcement officers not only to have professional training, but also high moral qualities, without which it is impossible to work where there is death, grief, missing children and despair of families. Therefore, the behavior of the cadet and his comrades received wide resonance.
According to information of the police, 14-year-old Anastasia Sytnikova was wanted, who disappeared on February 17 in the Sobornyi district of Dnipro. On February 20, during search operations, in which cadets were involved, law enforcement officers reported that the girl was found dead.
After a photo of a smiling cadet next to the body of the deceased girl was distributed on social networks and this story became public, the Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs announced the start of an official investigation. The university stated that they had already identified the individuals involved in the incident, and also emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable for a student of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a future law enforcement officer.
The institution’s management gave a public assessment of this situation, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable for cadets of the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
“The Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs has launched an official investigation into the fact of the dissemination of information on the Internet regarding the inappropriate behavior of cadets while participating in search activities. During the investigation, the persons involved in the incident have already been identified.
The management of the educational institution strongly condemns any manifestations of disrespect for human dignity, especially in situations related to tragedies and deaths of people. Such behavior is unacceptable for a student of an institution of the Ministry of Internal Affairs system and a future law enforcement officer.
An official investigation is currently underway to fully establish the circumstances of the incident and provide a legal assessment of the actions of all persons involved. The results will be announced later.
The university expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
The sharp reaction on social networks appeared not only due to a combination of several circumstances, each of which in its own way intensified public outrage. It was about a dead child, about search operations, in which people usually expect sympathy and concentration, as well as about a cadet of an institution that trains future law enforcement officers. Therefore, the photo of a smiling young man next to the girl’s body became a symbol of cynicism and moral deafness for many, which looks especially alarming in such an environment.
In such situations, society appreciated that this act speaks of a person’s professional suitability for service. If a cadet, who must learn discipline, the limits of official behavior, and respect for human dignity, allows himself such an action, then how can he continue to serve in the Ministry of Internal Affairs system?
