site.btaJunior Inspector Kristin Ivanov Named Police Officer of the Year, Drugs Unit Wins Collective Award for 2025

Junior inspector Kristin Ivanov was awarded Police Officer of the Year by Interior Minister Daniel Mitov at an official ceremony held at the National Palace of Culture on Monday. The event was attended by the senior professional and political leadership of the Interior Ministry.

Ivanov was honoured for a rescue operation in which he entered the Skat River, smashed the rear window of a car that had fallen into the water, and pulled out a woman with limited mobility who was unable to escape the vehicle. He then supported her above the water level until a fire brigade team arrived and assisted in bringing her safely to the riverbank.

The collective Police Officer of the Year award was presented to the Drugs Unit of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime. The unit carried out 26 operations related to drug trafficking, production and distribution. The award was presented by Interior Ministry Secretary General Miroslav Rashkov.

Four individual awards were presented for outstanding professional actions, including border protection operations preventing illegal crossings, a swift life-saving response involving a two-year-old child, rescues during two separate fires, and demonstrated courage and self-sacrifice during a large-scale parking-area fire.

The award ceremony was organized by the Interior Ministry and the Trust and Protection Foundation.