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Mayor requests more police in Medjugorje
Send more police to Medjugorje, mayor Ivo Jerkic will ask the central police authority. The station in Citluk will be encouraged not to call for assistance from Medjugorje where officers are facing illegal construction, street merchants, dubious goods, false bank notes, and improper parking.
Ivo Jerkic, mayor of Citluk
Medjugorje needs more police officers, and mayor Ivo Jerkic will officially request them, it was decided on June 20 when Jerkic met with representatives of the local communities in Medjugorje and Bijakovici, the local police, and municipal staffers.
“It was agreed that mayor Jerkić sends a request to increase the number of police officers in Medjugorje to the police authorities. That will go alongside the initiative to ask the police station in Citluk, considering the situation, not to send requests (to Medjugorje, ed.) for assistance, thus reducing the already small number of police officers” the municipality of Citluk informs.
Participants did not find time to talk about illegal land acquisition and construction, and concern was expressed that a special police force may be needed to clear up the illegal parts of the current building boom in Medjugorje.
Citluk mayor Ivo Jerkic (middle) with Medjugorje community president Dragan Vasilj (left) during Wednesday’s meeting
Street merchants selling dubious goods without permits was a main issue at the meeting. A large number of illegals stalls are in place at the foot of Apparition Hill, by The Blue Cross and outside Cenacolo Community for former drug addicts.
“From 3 to 6 pm, dozens of street vendors are in the street in front of Cenacolo, and it is so every day. This is not just about selling souvenirs, but also various goods of dubious quality. These are primarily honey and brandy. There is a suspicion that drugs are being sold from such stalls, and there are also counterfeit banknotes. Also, municipal guards receive various threats from these people” president of Bijakovici’s local community Marinko Ivankovic said..
More officer has long been on the wish list of Citluk police chief Ivan Milicevic, but central police authorities have not heeded his requests
Previously, the local community managed to drive illegal merchants out from the Cross Mountain area, “but it was not easy” president of the Medjugorje community Dragan Vasilj said.
Also discussed was the problem of taxi drivers continuing to park their vehicles improperly. This has led to further traffic problems and caused a large number of improperly parked cars on the stretch from the bus station to St. James Church. The traffic situation have had representatives of the local communities file numerous complaints about the work of the police in Medjugorje.
Citluk police chief Ivan Milicevic said that the station in Medjugorje has a small number of officers who are “stretched” with several parallel duties, and that he has repeatedly requested more policemen for Medjugorje.