Eastern Finland Police Issue Written Warning to Chief Inspector for Workplace Harassment
The Eastern Finland Police Department has issued a written warning to a detective chief inspector for repeated inappropriate behavior toward two female employees. The warning, dated June 16, 2026, follows an internal investigation into allegations of harassment, including unwanted touching, propositions, and persistent unwelcome advances.
The women described multiple incidents of misconduct, which Helsingin Sanomat reports included the chief inspector patting one woman on the buttocks when entering her office to ask for advice. The woman stated that the act was so sudden that she was unable to react and instead left the scene. She also recounted that the man had repeatedly suggested visiting her home to use the sauna, a topic he had raised since 2019 (Yle). Additionally, he had given her a package of underwear as a "souvenir" from a trip to Thailand, which he later claimed was a "half-joking" gesture from approximately a decade ago (Helsingin Sanomat).
The second woman reported that the chief inspector placed his hand on her leg in the break room and proposed a "two-hour private booking at the workplace gym just for the two of us." In another incident, he pulled her into an embrace and whispered, "I missed you," while saving her phone number under the name "girl’s joker." She also described him massaging her shoulders without consent on multiple occasions (Yle). Both women stated that they tried to avoid being alone with him due to his behavior.
During the disciplinary procedure, the chief inspector denied most of the allegations, calling the women’s accounts exaggerated and partially incorrect. However, he admitted to slapping one woman on the buttocks and bringing her underwear from Thailand, though he claimed she had been pleased with the gift and hugged him in response. He also acknowledged massaging shoulders but insisted the women had wanted it, denying any poking or passing touches. Regarding the phone calls made to one of the women in late 2025, he attributed them to work-related matters and an offer to advise on an air-source heat pump (Helsingin Sanomat).
The police department concluded that the chief inspector had acted inappropriately on multiple occasions, finding no reason to doubt the credibility of the women’s testimonies. This is not the first time his behavior has been addressed; in 2024, the department formally urged him to correct his conduct after five female employees reported similar incidents (Helsingin Sanomat).
The written warning was issued as an administrative decision, and the chief inspector has the right to appeal to the Administrative Court of Eastern Finland. Sexual harassment is an offense subject to private prosecution in Finland, meaning charges can only be brought if the victim demands it. In this case, the women did not pursue legal action (Yle). To protect the identities of those involved, the specific police station where the chief inspector works has not been disclosed.
