Today is marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Academy

Vushtrri, September 06, 2019 – Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS), today marked the 20th anniversary of its establishment, where it was estimated that during this period there have been many achievements regarding the training and education in the field of public.
In the ceremony were attended Director General of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Mr.Ismail Smakiqi, Director General of the Albanian Police Academy Mr. Bilbil Mema, ICITAP Kosovo Program Manager Mrs. Kimberly Riffe, Deputy Head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in  Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo Mrs. Kilian Wahl, Kosovo Police Director General Mr. Rashit Calaj, Kosovo Police Correctional Service Director General Mr. Nehat Thaci, Kosovo Customs Director General Mr. Bahri Berisha, Chief Executive Officer of Kosovo Police Inspectorate Mrs. Miradije Kelmendi, Director General of Emergency Management Agency Mr. Fadil Kodra, former Academy leaders and representatives of local and international institutions.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Academy, formerly was called the Kosovo Police Service School, the Director General of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Mr. Ismail Smakiqi thanked all those who had contributed to the development of the Academy.

Director Smakiqi said that, this year many institutions in Kosovo celebrate the 20th anniversaries of their work, but I believe that, one of the most important institutions in the country in the field of public safety is the former Kosovo Police Service School, now the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety.


“In August 1999, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo began the process of recruiting staff to the OSCE, while on September 6, 1999 the OSCE opened the Police School and began by training the cadets to become members of the Kosovo Police. The first generation of cadets has counted 176,”said Smakiqi.


Smakiqi said that during these 20 years the history of the Academy is the history of establishment, fulfillment of human capacity and development of the Public Safety Agencies that dealing with law enforcement in Kosovo.

“The mandate of the Academy, the institution responsible for providing training and higher education, in the field of public safety, to all public safety institutions, is undoubtedly the highest value of these twenty years in the field of public safety education.", said Smakiqi.


Director Smakiqi thanked the OSCE and the US Embassy in Kosovo for their assistance that they have had provided to the Academy since its establishment.

Allow me to express the highest consideration to you and the Institutions you lead for your outstanding contribution to the Academy. You and your institutions, at different stages of the development of the Academy, have led the Academy since its establishment; you have supported and advised the Academy, said Smakiqi

General Director of KAPS Mr. Ismail Smakiqi, said that 2019 marks the latest history of the Academy carrying professional training accredited from the National Qualifications Authority, based on the National and European Qualifications Framework, as well as the Accreditation of the Academy by the International Association of Directors of Standards and Law Enforcement Training (IADLEST), USA. "Accreditation by IADLEST, as it is known, is the first accreditation of an academy outside the USA", said Smakiqi

Director Smakiqi also thanked the Ministry of Internal Affairs Mr. Ekrem Mustafa and the Mayor of Vushtrri Mr. Xhafer Tahiri for supporting the Academy in its development.

Director Smakiqi has made the special thanks for the first director of the Academy, Mr. Steve Bennett who was, as Smakiqi said, one of the best contributors to the development of the Academy.

Whereas, the General Director of Correctional Service Mr. Nehat Thaçi, at the same time he is the Chairman of the KAPS Board, said that the Academy is a temple of knowledge which produced president, leaders, heads of security institutions. "The Academy is a temple in which sportspeople were born, with whom, our Academy and our state in international arenas, is proud, a temple of knowledge that produced people who raised family culture and family education," Thaçi said, encouraging the Academy and staff to work hard.


“On behalf of the board I encourage you to continue to produce the product that guarantees the national security of our country," concluded Thaçi.

The Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Mr. Kilian Wahl, also spoke at 20th anniversary ceremony of the establishment of the Academy. On this occasion Mr. Wahl highly appreciated the achievements of the Academy, saying that during this period there were many achievements in the Academy.
Mr. Wahl said the Academy has become a leading provider of training and education for the Kosovo Police, Correctional Service, Customs, Emergency Management Agency and the Kosovo Police Inspectorate.

“The OSCE has continued to be the single largest international training provider for public safety and law enforcement agencies, striving to support the work of the Academy. On average since 2006 the Mission has delivered close to 60 specialized and advanced vocational training annually, keeping courses relevant to current law enforcement challenges he said, saying that the OSCE cooperates with all stakeholders to ensure that this Academy provides substantial quality and provides the best possible security services.



ICITAP Kosovo Program Manager Mrs. Kimberly Riffe also highly appreciated the work of the Academy for these 20 years. Mrs. Riffe said that ICITAP will continue to support the Academy even further.

She said that the international accreditation of the Academy is a great achievement, and I believe that the next big step is to re-accredit the Academy.

Mrs. Riffe said that the Academy should continue to work hard with the commitment in order to provide trainings in the field of security for all law enforcement.

Whereas, Steve Bennett, who was the first director of the Academy, previously was called the Kosovo Police Service School, said that the Academy has made great progress in these years.


“I am so excited; this day reminds me of my past. I do not believe that there are seven people, there are thousands more, and who have contributed to achieve here where you are, and their merits who have worked all the time. This has been a team and group commitment, dedication and the support of financial institutions has made these achievements possible. I'm really proud of that. I feel like a parent when I see what happened here. I feel proud that I have been here since the beginning, since the birth of the Academy, but it has grown and become professional and is recognized internationally, "said Bennett.

Meanwhile, the former director of the Kosovo Police and the Academy, Mr. Sheremet Ahmeti thanked all those who have contributed to the development of the state. “We must not forget the great help that the OSCE constantly provided in increasing and supporting all the capacities of the Kosovo Police. I greet all those who have helped in increasing the capacity of all public safety officers. "There is nothing more sacred than serving our country, the citizens of the country," Ahmeti said


At the end, the Director General of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Mr. Ismail Smakiqi expressed his gratitude to the Academy partners OSCE and ICITAP, as well as former KAPS leaders. In order to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Academy, a documentary film was presented that reflected all the developments that have taken place during this period.