PHOTO // Stories of sacrifice: files on fallen heroes of Dniester War preserved at Ștefan cel Mare Academy of Ministry of Internal Affairs

"I swear not to spare my strength, and if necessary, even my life to defend the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Moldova." This was the oath of the police officers who in 1992, rose to defend the young state of the Republic of Moldova. They were the first. They fought against a well‑equipped foreign army, defending the peace and quiet of the citizens.

The memory of the police officers who fell in the line of duty is preserved at Ștefan cel Mare Police Academy. Ninety‑two personal files with photographs of the fallen heroes are kept at the Center for Spiritual Culture and Military‑Patriotic Education within the institution.

Page by page, they tell the life stories of heroes. Each file begins the same way – the job application, the results of the medical commission, the character reference, the appointment orders, and the promotions in rank.

Beyond the documents, between the pages, emerges the fate of a person who chose to bind his life to the police profession and, in a time of crisis, stood firm with a weapon in his hands.

"In the halls dedicated to the armed conflict on the Nistru River, visitors discover not only historical information, but also the traces of a dramatic period. The portraits of the fallen look out from their frames, and their files reconstruct each one’s professional and human journey. The commemorative objects are not simple exhibits, but symbols of the memory and respect shown by these young men in the country’s difficult moments," says Mihai Ciupac, principal inspector in the Cultural‑Educational Section of Ștefan cel Mare Academy, who carefully preserves each file.

Over the years, the center has preserved the living history of the police profession. From the first uniforms and cameras to typewriters, tape recorders, video cameras, and devices for creating identikit portraits.

"Each object marks an important stage in the evolution of the profession. Photographs of graduates are preserved, as well as textbooks, badges, orders and sports distinctions, and also personal items that recall the people who made a remarkable contribution to the field of policing," added Mihai Ciupac.

The center is not just a museum of the past, but a space of continuity: it helps young people understand that the police profession means more than a uniform – it means tradition, discipline, responsibility and, sometimes, sacrifice, says Mihai Ciupac.

"Only in this way can we maintain the connection between the past and the present. We will not be able to build the future if we do not know the past. If these things are lost, there will remain an immense void for the new generation; we will lose the essence – devotion to the people, respect for the rule of law and the preservation of territorial integrity," emphasized Mihai Ciupac.

The Center for Spiritual Culture and Military‑Patriotic Education within Ștefan cel Mare Academy opened its doors in 2004. Since then, all materials have been carefully collected in order to preserve the essence of the police profession.