Police Must Disguise to Leave Home, an officer told a judge on Friday morning during court proceedings related to a tragic incident one year ago.
At the end of the first day of the case, presiding Judge questioned both officers involved about their current situation — one year after the event. Both officers remain deeply affected by what happened and are living difficult lives. They are widely recognized in the community, face public anger, and are unable to go out without drawing attention.
The judge asked if they had thought about their future, noting that at the end of the case they could either be fully acquitted of all charges or face imprisonment. Officer M. Violenes said he has considered this, and so has his colleague Dirksz. Violenes said he feels he must “disguise” himself if he wants to leave his house so that people won’t recognize him.
Life Since the Tragic Incident
Both officers have been suspended and are at home, receiving 75% of their salary, but without other police benefits they previously received.
Violenes described his situation emotionally, saying he can barely leave home without disguising himself to avoid public harassment. Previously, he earned income from working 80 hours per week, including overtime and other financial benefits — earnings he now depends on to support his family. He said he has had to choose between buying food for his family or paying for psychological counseling sessions.
Violenes shared that he struggles to sleep, thinks daily about the fatal incident, and continues to cope with the emotional aftermath. He lives at home with his three‑year‑old child. When asked what he would tell the victim’s family, he said he would tell them that he never wanted what happened to occur.
Dirksz’s Situation
Officer Dirksz said he also thinks about the incident every day and wonders what he could have done differently that day. He suffers from trauma and has been unable to continue his psychological treatment due to financial difficulties. For his safety, Dirksz is now living in a different home, separate from his family, while also paying the mortgage on his own residence.
When the judge asked if he wanted to say anything to the victim’s family, Dirksz said there was nothing he could say that would change what happened.
