A forensic psychiatric evaluation has confirmed the sanity of a young police officer who fatally shot his colleague, Mateusz Biernacki, during a confrontation with an armed suspect in Warsaw on November 23, 2024.
Fatal Intervention in Praga-Północ
The incident occurred on the afternoon of November 23, 2024, in Warsaw’s Praga-Północ district, where officers were responding to an aggressive man armed with a machete. During the operation, one officer discharged his service weapon, striking his colleague, 35-year-old staff sergeant Mateusz Biernacki.
Biernacki was transported to the Military Institute of Medicine, but he could not be saved. The Metropolitan Police Headquarters later confirmed the shot was fired by a junior officer who had been in service for only 18 months.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The officer responsible was charged with exceeding his authority and causing fatal bodily harm. Although the prosecution sought temporary detention, the court opted for police supervision, a ban on contacting witnesses, a 50,000 PLN bail, and suspension from duty.
An expert in intervention techniques and direct coercion measures concluded that the use of force was unjustified and contrary to legal regulations.
Psychiatric Evaluation and Future Prosecution
Prosecutor Karolina Staros of the Warsaw-Praga District Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Wednesday that forensic experts have filed a psychiatric report stating the suspect was sane at the time of the event.
The prosecution considers the evidence complete and intends to finalize the review of case materials with the suspect and his defense attorney. Unless additional evidence requests are granted, an indictment is expected to be filed in court by July.
