Elmar Vaher: I’m a policeman, one of many others

Photo: Liis Treimann

Yesterday, interior minister Ken-Marti Vaher decided to propose Elmar Vaher, current Northern Prefecture head, for director general of Police and Border Guard Board. According to minister, Mr Vaher has shown himself a strong leader.

An acquaintance of mine who knows you says that Vaher is all policeman. Meaning, in a positive sense, that you’re firm and straightforward, in private life also…

Andrus Vaarik is all actor. Ilmar Kaur, a leading physician in Estonia, is also all doctor.

That was meant as a friendly jab. Meaning you stick to principles. Another colleague says that if you become police chief, you won’t want to be a bona fide bureaucrat. That you like to be out there, in the field, even as leader. Is that possible, in police?

Like many other top positions, director general means teamwork. Well, it can’t be quite like that you take a decision and then run out, into the streets. True, as prefecture boss I went out to head up difficult investigations. As director general, I will rather have to believe in my team, who will have to do their job.

Police Board director general must communicate in two directions. One being the Ministry and the other, Police Board. How do you read it, 50:50?

A third party will have to be added – the public, for whom we work. In a few words it is hard to explain it, but in reality, Police and Border Guard Board has to communicate with public constantly. This makes for three main channels: inward (police), partner agencies (ministry) and society.

While you use the term «police and border guard board», I simply say «police» or «police board». Most people do view the agency as police, correct?

Well, I do occasionally slip myself.

With that in mind, I do have a question, still. When these two agencies were merged, the talk was that, in the future, two prefecture chiefs would come from police background and the other two from border guard background. In reality it went different, and I have heard border guards complain that there is a ceiling to their careers, somewhat…

Here, one has to consider that, it was actually three agencies that were merged. I wouldn’t underestimate Citizenship and Migration Board. As time goes on, and the longer we are in European Union, the more important the migration issue becomes.

But, trying to answer the question, it has to be kept in mind that, at the moment, Eastern Prefecture is lead by a border guard. At the same time, I’d like to underline that stressing one being a criminal policeman, another border guard and yet another – a law enforcement officer… some healthy competition may be good, but I wouldn’t want to go down that path. What counts most is a person’s character. I don’t believe any prefecture chief will think his background more important, neglecting the other.

I know that in autumn, they offered you the post of deputy secretary general at Ministry of the Interior. But you declined. Why?

I like a police organisation.

You are basically saying you like to be a policeman?

Yes. I’m a policeman.

As a policeman, you’ve seen it all. Leading 1,500 people in Northern Prefecture. On the other hand, been down on your face at Town Hall Square, knifed twice in the back by a crook. That true?

Yeah, that was 1998. That’s bad experience, of course.

Just wanting to point out you’ve seen it all, in your career.

The April Night, 1998, surely was an ill led operation; we made a mistake back then. It’s not about me, it’s about the mistake – which, in my current work, I’ve been trying to avoid as much as possible.

Talking about mistakes, let me immediately ask about last year. The media really buzzed with two issues. First the Viljandi events (a fight with policemen injured – edit.), and then the Türi case (a man shot dead, another wounded – edit.) Did the police make mistakes, in these cases also?

With these two cases, we have given our comments. They were different, cannot be put into same pot. With Viljandi, it was coinciding circumstances. The events will be best evaluated by the policemen who were there, on the spot. In hindsight it is very difficult to say ‘I would have done this or that…’ Anyway, a good lesson learnt, for us.

A colleague said that, had Vaher been chief back then, he’d have headed for Viljandi at once. This comes as an arrow of criticism towards Raivo Küüt, for his feeble reaction – some kind of a video call, instead of showing up.

The chief being present is surely important. Makes things clear. I would have gone. The boss has to draw conclusions, to learn.

Some have said that the new Police and Border Guard Board is too big, after merger. That is was a mistake.

Too big is one thing. At the same time we have to realise there are so many similar activities here, which need no separate management. In Northern Prefecture, I clearly see the effect of making different units work for a common goal. If the border leaks, criminal police will be flooded with work. If criminal police is weak, law enforcement units will be patrolling from one scene to another.

I already asked about you not accepting the post of deputy general secretary. I also know that, as Raivo Küüt’s leaving became clear, he offered higher ranks to many a top level policeman. To you as well, but you declined. Why?

I declined because an organisation will have to stick to equal treatment. While a prefecture head, I have to make decisions that affect hundreds of policemen, and I cannot go with favouritism. If I treat my colleagues the same, I want me treated the same, equally. (Mr Vaher is referring to not having met the conditions for a higher rank – edit.) I am not an exception among policemen. I shouldn’t be treated exceptionally. I’m a member of an organisation, and a policeman.

What are your strengths?

Human relationships and negotiations, I think.