Sirens sounded across Poland in tribute to fallen police officer

Precisely at noon on sirens echoed in Warsaw as well as in other Polish cities like Katowice, Poznań, Wrocław, Szczecin, and Łódź. Rows of police vehicles with activated signals and officers standing in salute formed solemn tributes to honor the officer who was killed in the line of duty on Inżynierska Street in Warsaw.

During the funeral of Officer Mateusz Biernacki, who was killed in the line of duty, Minister of the Interior and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak, expressed his condolences and respect for the fallen officer.

"Today, we gather around a family deeply plunged into grief ... to express our profound sympathy and, on behalf of the Republic of Poland, to show great respect to Officer Mateusz Biernacki. We will not forget his sacrifice," he said.

Siemoniak emphasized the inherent risks in a police officer’s duty: "In the life of a police officer, serving people often entails risking life and health. Mateusz made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty."

"That is why his case holds such significance and draws the attention of the entire nation today. Once again, I extend deep condolences to the family and to the police force, which is so broadly represented here today," the minister added.

In a symbolic tribute, law enforcement officers across Poland activated sirens and emergency lights at noon on Friday.

This was a gesture to honor Biernacki, as police had urged earlier via social media: "On the day of the funeral, at precisely 12:00 PM, let police signals sound and lights flash across the country in a gesture of tribute to Mateusz."

"Last weekend, 34-year-old Staff Sergeant Mateusz Biernacki, a police officer from the Warsaw VI District Police Station, died in the line of duty. He leaves behind a grieving family and loved ones," the National Police Headquarters previously reported.

The funeral service was held at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Biała Podlaska.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, November 23, on 6 Inżynierska Street in Warsaw, where two police patrols responded to a report about an aggressive man. During the intervention, one officer discharged his firearm, unintentionally shooting another officer. The injured officer was critically wounded and later died in the hospital.

In the aftermath, the prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the circumstances of the fatal shooting. The officer who had fired the weapon during the operation was questioned as a suspect. The investigation aims to determine the details of the event and the legality of the use of force.

This heartbreaking event has prompted further examination of procedures for handling high-stress interventions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The spokesperson for the Warszawa-Praga District Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor Norbert Woliński, stated that officer Bartosz Z., who used his firearm during the intervention, has been charged with exceeding his authority, unjustified use of his service weapon, and causing a life-threatening condition, which ultimately led to the death of another officer.

Bartosz Z. has denied the allegations and provided a statement. According to Polish criminal law, he faces a potential sentence ranging from five years in prison to life imprisonment.