"I am confident that the Croatian police will continue to honorably and legally execute their tasks. It is up to you to use your expertise, know-how and self-sacrifice to be dignified guardians of every citizens' security, guarantors of public security and the constitutional order," Josipovic said, receiving members of the Interior Ministry and congratulating them on the occasion of Police Day.
He remembered the police officers who were killed defending the country during the war as well as those killed in peacetime.
He said police work was extremely demanding and responsible, adding that the protection of citizens, property, public security, and the border as well as the increasingly complex crimes and terror and natural disaster threats called for constant improvement in police organisation and training as well as better means.
The president said it was of the utmost importance that police were free or political and partisan interests, but that policy must make sure that police work was as efficient as possible by ensuring constant modernisation and the best expert leadership.
Croatia's European Union membership contributes to a greater transparency of police work and the capability of the Croatian police to cooperate with other police forces on an equal footing as a member of Europol and Interpol, said Josipovic.
Cooperation with the neighbouring police forces is better and better, helping to prevent cross-border and international crime, he said, adding that the police had efficiently covered the summer tourist season.
Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic remembered the 755 officers killed during the 1991-95 Homeland War.
He said the crime rate had dropped 8.8 per cent, the number of traffic fatalities was constantly declining, murders were down 26.5 per cent, and the reporting of organised crime went up 186 per cent.
"Those figures show why we are regaining the trust of Croatian citizens in the police," he said, adding that Interpol's leaders had highlighted Croatia as one of the most active members.
He said the ministry would get a new helicopter on Thursday and sign a contract for the procurement of another. He said the present police helicopters were 32 years old on average and that now the ministry would get state-of-the-art aircraft.
Ostojic said the police "most certainly care about human rights protection... Unlike some who are sending messages, threatening with brutal force, I can say on the ministry's behalf that we will never resort to force unless it is absolutely necessary."
The president decorated several police officers.