The Podgorica Firefighters’ and Rescuers’ Union expresses concerns regarding the safety of citizens and property due to what they describe as “incompetent and unscrupulous” management by the acting head of the Protection and Rescue Service of the Capital City, Zdravko Blečić.

In a written communication to Mayor Saša Mujović, Union president Dušan Knežević stated that the Mayor will be held accountable for any “unwanted consequences” should Blečić remain in his current position.

“We find it necessary to reach out again urgently, as we have yet to receive a response from you regarding our previous letter. There are ongoing issues in the Protection and Rescue Service of Podgorica, which continues to be led by Acting Chief Zdravko Blečić. We want to reiterate that the safety of citizens and property is at risk due to the incompetent and negligent management of the Acting Chief. The potential hazards of upcoming fire seasons loom large if he is allowed to continue in this role with a full mandate rather than as an Acting Chief. As this decision rests with you, you will bear full responsibility when these unwanted consequences manifest,” Knežević noted in his letter to Mujović, as detailed in the statement.

“We would like to highlight two extremely hazardous fire incidents, specifically during the blazes at Gorica Hill and Srpska Hill. There are certainly many more examples. The damage incurred in these two instances alone could have been significantly minimized if not for the grossly incompetent management of the interventions by Chief Blečić, who seemed more focused on media presence and personal branding, celebrating so-called successes that were in reality stark failures. As experienced firefighters can attest, last year’s fire season was disastrous. The reasons behind past and anticipated inadequate responses in major firefighting operations are, among others, the hiring of subpar and inexperienced personnel. It is crucial to point out the deliberate and intentional fostering of poor interpersonal relations within the team, which is both unacceptable and unthinkable for a service of this nature. The success of any operation is primarily reliant on teamwork, harmony among firefighters, and a sense of unity within the collective, as our job heavily relies on mutual trust,” Knežević added.

He further asserts, “Such an atmosphere among the personnel is not coincidental.”

“Chief Blečić deliberately creates divisions through favoritism, intimidation, and gossip, all in the pursuit of prolonging his tenure and fulfilling his unearned ambitions that have persisted for decades. Picture a scenario where he ceremoniously sends off some retirees with grand honors, complete with media coverage and water cannons, while neglecting to extend a simple greeting to others who are also deserving of acknowledgment. Such behavior from a leader within our Service is unprecedented in its history. We reiterate that the current head of the Protection Service is a theoretical thinker, a notably ineffective practitioner, an exceptional PR figure, a known manipulator, and someone with dubious motivations—all stemming from excessive ambition. Though he has held several significant positions within the Service, including his current role, the same individuals who appointed him have hastily reassigned him due to his incompetence and the creation of poor relationships among colleagues. This has inevitably resulted in negative outcomes during various interventions that are crucial to the safety of citizens and the Capital City. We underscore this point again, as long-time firefighters who have worked alongside him and assisted this ungrateful individual expect rationality, change, and gratitude,” stated Knežević.

He also mentioned that they are aware of the drafting of a new Systematization Act.

“This time, we expect you to encourage the Acting Mayor to provide the systematization to all employees within the Service, complying with legal obligations, as we suspect it may be manipulated to accommodate his compliant yet unqualified staff, potentially leading to future major issues and adverse effects. Our urgency in addressing you is not meant to undermine you but stems from our commitment to the collective good, which our profession demands. We hope to avoid having to disclose all details and evidence of misconduct in our next communication with you and to the public. We would like the opportunity for a meeting where we can present our concerns directly to you. In the past, we have been active advocates and will continue to strive for the Protection Service to regain its former standards, particularly in a professional capacity,” concluded the address to the Mayor of Podgorica.

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