Cops Punished For Using Gas On Retirees

Two Athens police commanders and the head of the riot squad were suspended or fined Tuesday for letting officers use tear gas to break up a group of retirees demonstrating near the presidential mansion.

Seven demonstrators were hospitalized in the March 9 incident. Many of the protesters, demonstrating for higher pensions, had been using canes to help them walk.

Lt. Gen. Nikos Relakis and Brig. Pantelis Georgas were suspended for 3 months and Lt. Col. Haralambos Christofareizis, the head of the riot squad, was fined a month’s salary.

A police board also announced the early retirements of Relakis and Georgas. The ministry said the retirements were not related to the incident.

Police said they used gas to prevent the protesters from reaching the home and office of Premier Andreas Papandreou, which is located next to the mansion.