The national police mark the 17th anniversary on December 18. On this date in 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic adopted the law on police, which gave birth to a new institution that replaced the Soviet Militsya. According to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, quoted by Info-Prim Neo, in the morning of December 19, senior officials of the Ministry laid flowers near the poster with the names of the employees that died in the line of duty, placed in the Interior Ministry’s hall, and then on the monument to Stephan the Great. In the afternoon, fresh officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs swore the oath in the Park “Valley of the Mill” in Chisinau. A festive concert started at the National Palace at 17.00, broadcast live on the national television channel. On December 17, Minister of Internal Affairs Gheorghe Papuc had a meeting with students of the Academy “Stephan the Great” and with cadets of the Lyceum “Saint Gheorghe”. The most industrious cadets and students received gifts and money awards. At the City Hall’s meeting held on the eve of the Police Day, Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca did not allow the municipal police head Iacob Gumenita to speak when he wanted to express his opinion about the discussed topic – the removal of snow from the streets. “Mr. Gumenita, I won’t allow you to speak. You do not fulfil the orders of the mayor so you’d better assist silently,” the mayor said. The relations between the local public authorities and the municipal police are tense because the law enforcement bodies in Chisinau have a double subordination. The most recent confrontation between Dorin Chirtoaca and Iacob Gumenita occurred on December 10, when the deputy police commissioner refused to fulfil the mayor’s order and allow the Christmas tree to be reinstalled. The Chisinau authorities say that the fir tree placed on December 9 in the Great National Assembly Square was taken down by the police at midnight and moved to the back of the Triumphal Arch.