Poland’s police chief, General Jan Michna, has assured leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of his commitment to the constitutional principles of religious freedom and respect for all religious minorities. “Members of these communities should not fear the police, if the law is respected,” Michna said.

During a meeting at the police headquarters in Warsaw on October 13, Adventist leaders expressed their concern over police training, which is based on training materials and information about minorities that often distorts reality. In its law enforcement training, the police had been using materials about new religious movements and sects provided by the Catholic information centers. Adventist Church leaders cited cases of police trainers using what the religious minorities consider derogatory language when referring to recognized churches and generally respected minority religious groups.

General Michna, who was recently appointed as Poland’s police chief, said that “any church that teaches principles of order, peace, and respect for the law is considered, from the police’s point of view, as a valued and respected organization.” During the visit, Adventist Church leaders welcomed the recent success of the police in fighting organized crime in the country.