The founder of the Police Academy, Bennett: Hoxha’s resignation is counterproductive, does not help in institutional improvement
tidings
Express Newspaper
31/10/2026 23:43
One of the founders of the Kosovo Police Academy, Steve Bennett, has reacted to the resignation of Gazmend Hoxha from the position of General Director of Police, after the murder of Arlinda Zekaj, calling it an “unnecessary” and “counterproductive” action for the process of learning and institutional improvement.
Benet has estimated that the resignation of Hoxha risks that the symbolic sacrifice of the leadership replaces a deep examination of the systemic failures that made this tragedy possible.
“The key questions are about the enforcement of protection orders, the assessment of the level of risk, the response to the warnings of the investigators and the effectiveness of the supervision by the management levels. These are issues related to organizational practices, command responsibility and institutional culture, which cannot be resolved simply through the departure of the General Director”, he wrote, among other things.
Benet also added that the priority should be a rigorous and independent investigation, followed by transparent corrective measures, and that, he further stated, institutional credibility is not restored only through resignations, but through honest acceptance of failures, clear definition of responsibilities and concrete and demonstrable improvements in the protection of persons in vulnerable situations.
Steve Bennett has had an important role in the establishment and development of the Kosovo Police. From 1999 to 2007, he was the director of the Kosovo Police Service School in Vushtrri. He was the first director of this school, which was founded in September 1999.
Bennett’s full post:
The resignation of Gazmend Hoxha, after the tragic murder of Arlinda Zekaj, was unnecessary and counterproductive for the process of learning and institutional improvement. While the seriousness of the case demands full accountability, the resignation of the Director-General risks symbolic sacrifice of leadership replacing a deep examination of the systemic failures that made this tragedy possible. This process is already under development and is being led by the IPK.
Key questions relate to the enforcement of protection orders, assessment of the level of risk, response to investigators’ warnings, and the effectiveness of oversight by management levels. These are issues related to organizational practices, command responsibility and institutional culture, which cannot be resolved simply through the removal of the Director General.
I believe his resignation could weaken the institutional learning process, removing the very leadership that should bear the responsibility to drive reforms, implement recommendations and ensure that such failures do not recur. Accountability should be commensurate with demonstrated responsibility and not simply determined by the position or hierarchical level of the office one holds.
A rigorous and independent investigation, followed by transparent remedial measures, should therefore be a priority. Institutional credibility is not restored only through resignations, but through honest acceptance of failures, clear definition of responsibilities and concrete and demonstrable improvements in the protection of persons in vulnerable situations.
This requires continuity in the senior leadership of the Kosovo Police (KP), not destabilization through unnecessary resignations.
