Mykonos: police officer arrested for dangerous driving

A police officer serving in the Directorate for VIP Protection of the Hellenic Police was arrested on Mykonos by fellow officers following an incident on the Agios Stefanos–Ornos perimeter road. According to available reports, the vehicle initially travelled from Ornos towards the New Harbour in Mykonos, and after passengers exited, the driver reportedly began performing dangerous manoeuvres. He reportedly used the vehicle’s flashing lights and siren to overtake cars that were stationary due to traffic congestion, and repeatedly moved into oncoming traffic, forcing drivers in both directions to take evasive action. No injuries are mentioned in any of the available sources.

An officer from the Mykonos Police Subdivision reportedly asked him to go to the station for a check, but he refused to comply. A second officer was called, who ultimately immobilized the vehicle, and the driver was taken to the Mykonos Police Subdivision where he was arrested. A file was opened against him for dangerous driving and insubordination. It must be explicitly stated that all the above details are attributed by the outlets that published them to reports: no official press release from the Hellenic Police was found confirming the sequence of events. No source provides the age or other identifying details of the arrested officer, who is not named and who benefits fully from the presumption of innocence until a decision by the competent authorities.

The road on which the incident occurred is one of the island’s busiest routes during peak season, as it connects the Ornos area with the harbour and simultaneously serves residents, visitors, taxis, buses, and baggage-transport vehicles. Traffic congestion in August is a constant feature, making any reckless driving exponentially more dangerous. The incident falls within an enhanced summer traffic enforcement period in the Cyclades, during which arrests have been recorded across six islands, while on Mykonos police activity has led to other recent cases that drew public attention.

What stands out in this case is that the check and arrest were carried out by police officers against a fellow officer. The file will be forwarded to the competent prosecutor’s office, which will determine its fate, while independently and separately from criminal proceedings, incidents of this type can trigger internal administrative investigations within the service. Nothing of the kind has been announced to date. Nor has it been disclosed whether the vehicle was a service vehicle or private, despite the reference to flashing lights and siren being central to the account, nor whether complaints were filed by other drivers. Until there is an official statement, the facts remain as attributed to reports and have not been institutionally confirmed.