by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Interview: Caterina De Gavardo, Trieste Councilor for Public Safety and Local Police
In a move aimed at strengthening public safety across the city, Caterina de Gavardo on Tuesday introduced 21 new officers joining the ranks of the Polizia Locale di Trieste — part of a broader effort by the city administration to reverse years of declining staffing levels.
The recruits, 18 men and 3 women with an average age of 30, were hired through a competitive public selection process launched in May 2025. Sixteen officers entered service in December, followed by two more in March and an additional three in recent weeks.
Speaking alongside Stefano Avian and police chief Walter Milocchi, de Gavardo said the city was responding to a growing demand for security and neighborhood policing.
The additions bring Trieste’s local police force to 289 employees, including 242 operational officers and inspectors. Officials noted that staffing had previously fallen below 200, creating strain on around-the-clock services and expanding public safety duties.
The new recruits will undergo six months of training that combines classroom instruction, fieldwork and supervised patrol assignments. Part of the program takes place at the regional police academy in Paluzza, where officers train alongside colleagues from across the region. The process culminates in firearms certification and an official oath before permanent assignment to specialized units.
Milocchi praised the city administration for investing in recruitment after years of shortages, while officials emphasized the importance of younger personnel in adapting the force to increasingly complex responsibilities, including 24-hour operations.
“The Local Police has increasingly become a direct service for citizens,” de Gavardo said, “and that requires new energy and new resources.”
