Future and in-service police officers will benefit from better conditions for tactical training and will be better prepared to react to critical public order situations. This is possible due to the renovated and re-equipped defensive tactics training facility of the "Stefan Cel Mare" Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The activity is part of a project aiming at modernizing the entire institution, implemented by UNDP with financial support from the Government of the United States of America. 

In the newly renovated premises, students of the Academy, as well as police officers, learn defensive techniques, modelled based on real-life public order cases. Here police officers develop their physical strength and benefit from tactical training, acquiring skills to protect themselves and others. 

The 270-square-metre room has not been fully renovated since it was commissioned. With the help of UNDP and the U.S. Government, the electricity supply was replaced, a new lighting system was fitted, new flooring was installed, an efficient ventilation and heat recovery system was set up, a fire alarm system was connected and finishing work was carried out on the walls and ceiling. 

At the same time, the training space was provided with tactical equipment for training future employees of the internal affairs system. The total value of the assistance is US$229 thousand. 

"Starting today, employees of the internal affairs system and future police officers will be trained to provide our citizens with better services and a safer society, thanks to the increased level of professional training at international levels. This is due to the support of our traditional partner, the United States of America, which understands and always intervenes where it is most needed. The contribution of the United Nations Development Programme is significantly increasing the quality of professional training," said Adrian Efros, Minister of Internal Affairs. 

Kent D. Logsdon, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova said: “Training at all stages is critical for the sustainable development of law enforcement capability. The United States was proud to join its efforts with UNDP to modernize the defensive tactics training by refurbishing the allocated training space, providing tactical gear, and enhancing the teaching abilities of the Academy trainers. Today’s launch is a great example of the strong partnership between the United States and the Ministry to modernize law enforcement, which will help our overarching goal to build a democratic, prosperous, and secure future for Moldova.”

Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova mentioned: “The renovated Defensive Tactics Training Facility aims to improve the training capabilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Academy ‘Stefan Cel Mare’, especially for the purpose of less and reasonable use of force in public order operations. Thanks to upgraded facilities and the provided equipment, over 3000 police officers and students are expected to benefit annually from better training conditions, in a modern, flexible, and safe environment for practicing and excelling in defensive tactics skills.”

The project “Strengthening Police Training Capacities in the Republic of Moldova” provides for renovating and endowing several subdivisions of the "Stefan Cel Mare" Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) with high-performance equipment. 

The project will be implemented until July 2024 and has a budget of $1,681,000.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police of the Republic of Moldova have a long-lasting collaboration with the U.S. Government and UNDP, during which various activities were carried out to strengthen the institutional and professional capacities of police to ensure a safe environment for all men and women in the Republic of Moldova and increase people’s trust in police.

The "Stefan Cel Mare" Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was established in 1990 and provides initial and continuous training for police. The institution offers law and policing studies for officer ranks as part of undergraduate education, as well as trains police for sub-officer ranks.