The police job was created only for the stronger sex. That opinion is particularly rooted in Montenegro, but three ladies break stereotypes and confirm that women can also be successful in a typically male job.
Marija Radonjić, Mirjana Tomčić and Zorica Manojlović have been employees of the Police Administration for years, where they perform daily operational tasks equally, side by side with their colleagues.
And while Radonjićeva, an inspector for domestic violence, as well as Manojlovićeva, senior commissioner and head of the shift in the Operations and Communication Center, can partly be said to perform a job that in a way befits their gender, Tomčićeva fills a position where few would expected a girl.
Kršna Durmitorka, born in winter often cut off in Little Montenegro, is a member of the elite squads of the Police Administration where she rightfully holds the unofficial title of the most beautiful "turtle", as members of the Special Police Unit (PJP) are popularly called.
It is not easy in any job, but it seems that these three ladies in blue, during their work in the police, hear many shocking life stories, and are often the first to hear or see tragedies, which many cannot see even on film.
It is not easy in any job, but it seems that these three ladies in blue, during their work in the police, hear many shocking life stories, and are often the first to hear or see tragedies, which many cannot see even on film.
Zorica Manojlović, the only female shift chief in OKC, is often the first in Montenegro to learn that an accident has occurred, and her part of the job is to "raise the operational network". She is a lawyer, but since her internship at the Court for Misdemeanors, she has been an employee of the MUP for more than 20 years, where she did administrative, personnel and analytical work.
"I've been in OKC for two years now, and it's a real police job, because during the shift you're completely devoted to your work because you monitor all the events in the country on the monitor. Being a woman in the police means surrendering to work without reserve, but there must be love for all of that, so that she can be equal side by side with male colleagues in operational work. There is no gender equality in the operational and communication center, and there is no division of labor, so the fact that I am a woman does not mean that I cannot think quickly and make the right decisions," said Zorica, who wanted to be a police officer from an early age.
"This desire of mine dates back to my childhood, because my father worked in the police. Establishing a working relationship in the Ministry of Internal Affairs had some obstacles because at that time there was a widespread opinion that a woman could not be a police officer, but also that she could not work the night shift. Recent times have shown that this is not true, so I, as well as my other colleagues at UP, perform all these, you name it, men's jobs quite equally", said Manojlović, who, like last year, will celebrate the New Year in the premises of OKC. .
My desire dates back to my childhood, because my father worked in the police. Establishing a working relationship in the Ministry of Internal Affairs had some obstacles because at that time there was a widespread opinion that a woman could not be a police officer, but also that she could not work the night shift. Recent times have shown that this is not true
"There's always stress, it's just an unavoidable part of my job. In the very first days when I started working in OKC, a monstrous murder of a Bulgarian happened in Budva. I remember that as something that really hit me," said Zorica, who follows "black events" in uniform for 12 hours a day.
Unlike the two of them, who wear recognizable police uniforms, Marija Radonjić, in civilian clothes and often in high heels, talks to people - victims of domestic violence - every day.
As a graduate in economics, she accidentally found herself in the police in 2006 because she got a job there, and then she went through various trainings and seminars to prepare for the job of a police officer - inspector.
"It's a very exciting job, and I look at this year of my work in the police as a busy period marked by shocking stories. When domestic violence happens, we are the ones who first receive these people, listen to their painful stories, take them to health facilities for providing help, and later we communicate with other competent institutions", said Marija, who tries to inform all those in need that "violence in the family does not have to suffer".
"You have to have a skillful and very patient conversation with these people, and it is also mandatory that you address them with a lot of attention and respect because that is what they often lack the most in their lives. Since women in Montenegro are most often victims of domestic violence, it is precisely the women who are in the position of inspectors, who meet them in the police and listen to their problems. It's the same as in your life, because a woman understands a woman best," said the inspector.
Marija believes that in Montenegro, awareness is being raised about the fact that violence is not tolerated, but, as she says, the statistics are still inexorable - a woman suffers violence for seven years, and only then decides to come to the police and report the abuser.
"We in the police are the ones who give the victim protection, clarify that they do not have to suffer, clarifying that there are legal mechanisms to sanction the abuser. Every month in Podgorica, 60-70 people report domestic violence, and every story is difficult and painful. Although more experienced colleagues in this job taught me that "a policeman who has emotions is not a policeman", I still haven't adopted that rule. I can't switch off completely and be just a harsh professional because these stories often hit me very hard", says Marija, who after her job in the police is engaged in another, the most beautiful job - motherhood!
She says that she brings up four-year-old Nikola much more strictly precisely because she has "observed everything" through her work.
"We are often visited by parents who are the target of violent children, usually drug addicts. It's not easy when you listen to the stories of those elderly people, who often tell us everything that happens in their family, and then only after an hour or two they withdraw the report and do not want to confirm with the judge what is happening to them".
Three graces, three policewomen, arrived at the interview without their uniforms - dressed up, made up and wearing high heels. And, like all women, they had only one request - to publish the photos in which they "looked the most beautiful".
"Announce the one in uniform to me. It's me," said Mirjana, and then told her in a sarcastic manner that she "never wore a police skirt, even though as an employee at the airport, she had to wear it as part of the police uniform."
Unrivaled in skiing
The most beautiful "turtle" undergoes complete training and daily training on an equal basis with men, so she is ready with her colleagues according to the folk "both in fire and in water". She doesn't lag behind them in shooting exercises, but that's why she's often the fastest in running...
In her unit, Durmitorka is, however, unrivaled for something - she is the best skier.
"Well, let's just say that I ski the best of all, so I'm often their instructor," said Tomčić with a shy smile, not wanting to be separated from the members of her squad.
I dream of returning to my Žabljak
And while many are looking to get to Podgorica and escape from the poor north to richer Montenegrin regions, it seems that Mirjana is also very different, special...
"I asked to be sent back to Žabljak. I want to do this work there and to continue living in that city. It is my area and I feel the best in Durmitor, but I am completely on my own here. I am waiting for a decision from the top of UP, and I hope they will listen to my wish to be transferred from Podgorica to work there. I dream of coming back," said Tomčić's unusual request.
Mountains are not the only thing on her mind - Zorica uses every opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and the demanding work somewhere in the Montenegrin hills.
"Mountaineering is my hobby, for more than 10 years. Mountains and nature are my filter for everything I hear and see in my work. It seems to me that during those tours and my interactions with nature, I regain my spirit and get new energy, which I continue in life and work," Manojlović said.
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