Chisinau traffic officers to be provided with batons and handcuffs in 2012

Starting from 2012, traffic police officers in Chisinau will likely be provided with rubber batons and handcuffs, as requested by the city's police chief Silviu Musuc, Info-Prim Neo reports. The request came after last week an officer was beaten by an angry driver who had lost his plates over a parking violation, and Silviu Musuc suggested that the measure would protect the traffic officers from such incidents. The 25-year-old officer is now in hospital with his leg in cast, Musuc said. Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca suggested that besides batons and handcuffs, surveillance cameras should be installed on patrol cars to deter violence against officers.