interviews: Maximiliano Crocamo
Interview: FVG Councilor for Local Autonomy and Security Pierpaolo Roberti; the Commander of Trieste Local Police Walter Milocchi
The Municipality of Trieste and the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government have signed a new agreement to coordinate local police operations across the region, aiming to streamline emergency responses and optimize the use of law enforcement resources.
The signing ceremony, held Tuesday morning in the Region’s Sala Predonzani, was attended by Trieste Mayor Roberto Dipiazza; Regional Councillor for Local Authorities and Security Pierpaolo Roberti; Trieste City Councillor for Security Policies Caterina de Gavardo; Trieste Local Police Chief Walter Milocchi; and Gian Luca Albertazzi, Director of the Regional Department for Local Police, Security, and Immigration Policies.
“This is a very important project that places the City of Trieste at the forefront,” said Councillor de Gavardo. “The protocol was born out of close collaboration between the Municipality and the Region. Pooling human resources has always been part of the regional approach, but this agreement will make the process faster and more efficient, while enhancing the skills and capabilities of our local police forces.”
Mayor Dipiazza emphasized that the agreement will ensure greater efficiency and speed of intervention, particularly during emergencies.
Police Chief Walter Milocchi explained that the agreement implements Article 16 of Regional Law 5/2021 and allows local police officers to be deployed in three main areas: managing large public events such as Gusti di Frontiera or Pordenonelegge, responding to natural disasters, and supporting smaller municipalities through specialized units such as canine teams, drone operators, or transport control specialists. “This is the first agreement between the Region and the Municipality of Trieste,” he noted, “and other municipalities are expected to join soon, contributing personnel and equipment.”
Councillor Roberti described the initiative as a step toward “uniformity and efficiency in guaranteeing safety across Friuli Venezia Giulia’s diverse territory.” He emphasized that the agreement, open to all local authorities in the region, “brings together the specialized expertise of local police forces—from environmental enforcement to domestic violence protection—allowing smaller towns with limited police presence to access additional resources without lengthy bureaucratic processes.”
Roberti clarified that the initiative does not amount to a “regionalization” of local police forces. “This is a coordination plan, not a centralization,” he said. “Each local police unit maintains its autonomy. The coordination center, based in Trieste, will rely on the city’s larger structure and 24-hour operational control room.”
The agreement will remain in effect for five years and is expected to become fully operational in early 2026, after other municipalities formally join in the coming weeks.
