With a presence likened to the “big friendly giant” of Roald Dahl’s stories, Fezollari – widely known as Ardi in his hometown of Pogradec – has built a reputation both as a police professional and as a visual artist, his camera a constant companion.

The exhibition was staged at Publik Galeri, a space repurposed from a property confiscated from criminal activity and converted into a community-oriented cultural venue.

Speaking to the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), Fezollari said the concept for such an exhibition had long been in development, though he had initially envisaged a more modest showing within the State Police institutional premises.

“This is among the most positive experiences I’ve had recently,” he told ATA, citing both the opportunity to exhibit alongside three fellow officers and the strong institutional support from the Interior Ministry throughout the project.

He described the exhibition as an effort to highlight a lesser-seen side of police personnel, underscoring that members of the force can also express sensitivity and creativity beyond their role in maintaining public order.

Titled “Creatio ex ordine,” the exhibition brings together around 60 works, including paintings and photographs, of which 15 are by Fezollari, a career officer with 36 years of service. His work is displayed alongside paintings by three other State Police officers.

Fezollari, a graduate of the Police Academy specializing in criminalistics, has held a range of roles from crime specialist and forensic expert to senior management positions. He currently heads the Human Resources and Training Sector at the regional police directorate in Korça.

Parallel to his law enforcement career, he has developed a distinctive photographic portfolio, focusing in particular on the natural landscapes of Albania, especially the south-eastern region between Pogradec and Korça.

The works on display span two periods: pre-2000 images shot on film and later digital landscape photography capturing sites across the country. The earlier photographs, presented in black and white, depict scenes of everyday life in locations including Berat, Mokra and Korça.

The exhibition was curated by art academic Shpend Bengu and also features paintings by Neritan Nallbati, Idajet Faskaj and Edmond Rizaj, all serving officers within the State Police.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Interior Taulant Balla, visited the house of a State Police inspector, one of the beneficiaries, who are eligible to the mortgage subsidy program launched most recently as a direct support and commitment to providing decent and quality appreciation for the contribution and service from this workers group.

“I had checked out this apartment before I received the loan, but it was almost impossible to buy it at the market prices,” police inspector Vionis Shehu said.

Prime Minister Rama also touched on some of the benefits that State Police employees are entitled to. “We pondered it for a long time and now we created this voucher system. Vouchers will be provided to every family of police officers. So the vouchers will be mainly used by the women, they go to supermarkets that have signed contracts with the Ministry of the Interior and buy staples at a discount. For those types of vouchers the discount is 10-15% according to the products.  As the State Police Director already noted, in addition to the monthly salary, this would be translated into food worth of 100, 000 lek  per month. However, the purchase value is even higher. A significant wage hike is planned to enter into force next year. State Police workers, general practitioners and teachers will receive really a significant pay rise in 2024. The average wage for state administration employees will surge to 900 euros a month. One shouldn’t forget that comparing a salary in one country to the corresponding one in another country is one thing, but what goes home is another. Let’s say there is no big pay difference between the Albanian police officer and the German one if the income taxes, the rent cost and the transport are subtracted,” the Premier said.

During the conversation with the police inspector’s family, the PM also touched on this year’s tourist boom as well as the contribution of State Police to this achievement. “We actually had three times the population living in Albania this summer, we recorded a tourism boom. The tourists were more than thrice the number of inhabitants in Albania, a very large number to be managed, however we have the potential for much more and step by step we will succeed, even with the help of the police who have set a new security standard to be honest, because to our surprise the surveys with these foreign tourists showed that they were impressed by the high level of security,” PM Rama said.

Extending the new home wishes, the government head also availed himself of the opportunity to express also his wishes to Shehu family for a joyful and happy New Year.

The mortgage subsidy program, which is being implemented for the first time in Albania this year, has been made available through specific legal changes and will be handled via the web-based e-Albania platform in collaboration with second-tier banks, is designed to help to make home ownership more affordable by providing zero interest rate loans to the eligible categories. The interest rates will be fully subsidized by the state budget.

This year’s initiative will help an initial group of 300 police officers, health workers and Armed Forces members with subsidized housing programs and it will continue next year in a bid to best meet the needs of people working at a great distance from their place of residence or need more spacious housing environments.

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Speaking to reporters in front of regional hospital in Vlora after visiting a police officer who was injured by a suspect after intervening to prevent a street fight in the southern Albania town of Himare a day ago, Interior Minister condemned the attack and said that harsher punishments will be exacted for perpetrators of such crimes.

“It is the moment to clearly state that anyone daring or attempting to raise a hand and attack any police officer, anyone who refuses to obey the police orders, our reaction will be really strong, exacting not only what the Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania envisages. The person who dared to attack a police officer will receive exemplary punishment. Whoever attacks a policeman, he attacks the state. And the state will act with all its power and strength against anyone attempting to attack police,” Balla stated.

Vlora police officer Ermal Muça was stabbed in the neck by suspect Theodhoi Mërkuri after acting to handle a street fight in the coastal town of Himare.

Interior Minister gave also an update on the policeman’s condition saying “he is in stable condition.”

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Tase appeared in court today and was charged with indirect intentional homicide. He didn’t reject the court decision and expressed his condolences to the family of the child, as well as to his fellow police officers.

It was found that the man had performed dangerous manoeuvres in an area where such vessels were prohibited, resulting in the girls instant death. He told the court the vessel accelerated by itself, causing him to lose control.

The police commissioner Arjan Tase is accused of killing a seven-year-old girl while he was driving a boat in an area reserved for swimmers at the weekend.

He was arrested immediately and was dismissed from the State Police.

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