The government has replaced the chiefs of Greek Police and of the Fire Service, two days after the resignation of Public Order Minister Nikos Toskas, and in the aftermath of the 23 July deadly wildfires.
The competent Government Council on Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) announced that the new chief of the Fire Service will be Lieutenant-General Vasileios Mathaiopoulos (photo above), until now deputy chief.
The new chief of Greek Police will be Lieutenant-General Aristeidis Andrikopoulos.
The former Fire Service chief Sotirios Terzoudis and the former Greek Police chief Konstantinos Tsouvalas had been informed by Interior Minister Panos Skourletis of the government’s decision before the KYSEA meeting.
The new Fire Service chief has been honoured with a number of medals and awards throughout his career, as he managed many of the major fires in Greece over the last several years.
Incoming Greek Police Chief Aristeidis Andrikopoulos has served in a number key positions. He was also one of the first police trade unionists.
He served as an officer in frontline positions in the General Regional Police Directorate of Western Greece, the Peloponnese, and the Ionian Islands.
In April, 2014, he was promoted to the rank to the rank of Lieutenant-General and appointed to the Regional Police Directorate.
Between August, 2014 and 2015 he served as Alternate General Police Director of Attica. From March, 2015 until 2016, he served as General Regional Director of the Greek Police Directorate of Western Greece.
