Police Officer Detained Overnight After Murder Suspect Self-Harms... Internal Backlash Intensifies (Comprehensive)

Police unions jointly condemn "human rights violations"
Jeju middle school murder suspect self-harms
Ordered to work inside detention center
Unarmed, shift changes every 3 hours
"Murderer lies down, police sit cross-legged"

Baek Mo, who is accused of killing a middle school student and fleeing in Jeju, is being transferred from Jeju Dongbu Police Station to Jeju District Court on the afternoon of the 21st to undergo a pre-arrest warrant hearing.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] As it became known that the suspect in the Jeju middle school student murder case caused a self-harm disturbance in the detention center and that an order was given to on-site police officers to enter the detention center and work there, opposition within the police force has intensified. Police workplace councils and related organizations have repeatedly issued statements condemning the leadership and demanding the protection of the human rights of on-site police officers.

According to the police on the 24th, Baek Mo (48), the suspect in the Jeju middle school student murder case who is detained at the Jeju Dongbu Police Station detention center, caused a self-harm disturbance in the detention center on the 22nd. Baek hit his head against the corner of the bathroom door, causing bleeding, and was immediately restrained by a guard, treated at a hospital, and then re-detained.

The problem arose after an order was issued to manage the suspect in the same space from 8 p.m. that day until 9 a.m. the next day. The Jeju Dongbu Police Station workplace council and others claim that an investigative officer from the investigation department, who had no experience working in a detention center and was unarmed, was made to work in shifts for three hours at a time.

As this fact became known, strong opposition arose within the police, calling it a clear human rights violation. One police officer posted on the internal police network, "The staff sat in a dignified posture watching, while the murder suspect lay down and slept comfortably," and questioned, "Can staff who have never worked in a detention center enter it and prepare for accidents?"

Voices of active opposition are also emerging centered around the workplace council. The National Police Workplace Council Solidarity (Workplace Council Solidarity) issued a statement that day saying, "In order to prevent the murder suspect from self-harming in the detention center, police officers were made to be locked inside the detention center with the criminal in shifts of three hours, which is absurd," and condemned, "While it is reasonable to prevent the suspect’s self-harm, ordering officers to monitor the suspect locked behind iron bars in the same space completely disregards the human rights of police officers." The Workplace Council Solidarity demanded, "There must be clear measures taken against those responsible for this order," and urged, "Immediately replace the person in charge and protect the human rights of lower-ranking on-site police officers."

The Police Workplace Council Democratic Council (Gyeongminhyeop) also criticized in a statement, "The murder suspect slept comfortably while the police watched beside him, creating a bizarre scene," and said, "We cannot even begin to imagine the frustration and misery of our colleagues thrown into the detention center." They added, "Especially concerning is that this incident was carried out after sufficient countermeasure meetings by the chief and staff," and raised their voices, "Because it blatantly revealed the usual attitudes and perceptions of commanders and staff toward their colleagues."

Gyeongminhyeop demanded, "The National Police Agency should review whether the actions of the Jeju Dongbu Police Station were appropriate, and if any mistakes are found, all involved should be held accountable and criminally prosecuted if laws were violated," and requested, "To prevent recurrence, conduct human rights education for commanders at police stations nationwide, pay special attention to ensure that colleagues who had to be locked in the detention center are not criticized or disadvantaged, and provide psychological treatment if necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.