Police Day – Presentation of the Colours to the Central Police Counter-Terrorist Unit “BOA”
On 16 July 2024, a ceremonial presentation of the Colours to the Central Police Counter-Terrorist Unit “BOA” took place in the courtyard of the Katyn Museum. The event formed part of this year’s Police Day celebrations of the unit.
The central moment of the ceremony was the formal presentation of the Colours. In keeping with tradition, commemorative nails were driven into the flagstaff. On behalf of the Minister of the Interior and Administration, the nail was driven in by Secretary of State Czesław Mroczek, while First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Police, Deputy Inspector General Roman Kuster, performed the same act on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief.
Other participants in this symbolic act included: Commander of the CPKP “BOA”, Inspector Łukasz Pikuła; Chairman of the Social Committee for Funding the Colours, retired Inspector Michał Stępiński; a representative of the Police generals; former Commander of CPKP “BOA”, retired Deputy Inspector General Dariusz Zięba; a representative of the Police officers of the unit, Inspector Krzysztof Sowiński; as well as representatives of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and rank-and-file personnel. The unit’s civilian staff were represented by Ewa Nogacka.
Commemorative nails were also driven in by the Chairman of the Police Trade Union, Commissioner Rafał Jankowski, as well as police chaplains representing three denominations: Roman Catholic (Rev. Wojciech Juszczuk), Orthodox (Rev. Andrzej Bołbot), and Evangelical-Augsburg (Rev. Marek Twardzik). Also participating was the Director of the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, Professor, Major General (ret.) Bogusław Pacek, under whose authority the Katyn Museum operates.
A special commemorative nail bearing the date 28 February 2021 – marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the central counter-terrorist unit – was driven in by its first commander, Colonel (ret.) Edward Misztal. The Colours were jointly blessed and consecrated by the attending police chaplains.
In his address, Deputy Minister Mroczek referred to the history of counter-terrorist units in Poland, noting that the presentation of the Colours symbolically completes the process of forming and consolidating a unit, a process that has recently been finalised in the case of CPKP “BOA”.
During the ceremony, a police honour guard was posted at the Katyn Epitaph, beside plaques bearing the names of pre-war law enforcement officers murdered in the Soviet Union. Following the presentation, a delegation consisting of Deputy Minister Czesław Mroczek, Deputy Inspector General Roman Kuster, Inspector Łukasz Pikuła and Director Bogusław Pacek laid a wreath at the site.
The ceremony concluded with a formal march-past of sub-units and colour parties. The musical setting was provided by the Police Representative Orchestra, conducted by Bandmaster Inspector Janusz Trzepizur, with Drum Major Superintendent Jakub Pietrucha.
