Jarkko Lehtinen appointed as Police Chief at Ostrobothnia Police Department

The post will be filled for a maximum period of five years from 1.4.2025 to 31.3.2030.

The National Police Board has appointed Jarkko Lehtinen as Police Chief at Ostrobothnia Police Department effective as of 1 April 2025. Eleven people applied for the position.

Jarkko Lehtinen has long-term experience in various management positions. He has worked for the Helsinki Police Department for the last almost three years as the Chief of Special Operation Division, and previously worked at the Helsinki Police Department as the Chief of the Command Centre and the Chief of traffic monitoring function.

Police Chief heads the police department

The Police Chief directs the operations of the respective police department in accordance with the police strategy as part of the overall police administration. 

The Police Chief is responsible for:

• the performance of the police department and the coordination of operations, finances and HR management
• organising the police department's police services in its area
• the police department's regional, national and international cooperation with stakeholders and authorities
• the reform of the police department, anticipating the needs of the operating environment
• the effectiveness of the police department's work community and external communications

A police department is tasked with safeguarding legal and social order in its area of operation, maintaining public order and security, police emergency services, preventing crime and disturbances, investigating crimes and gathering evidence for the prosecutor for the consideration of charges, licence administration of the police and other duties belonging to the local police. In addition, a police department is responsible for providing assistance within its scope of responsibility as a general security authority and for other tasks specifically assigned to it.