Gendarmerie General Command
{{Short description|National Gendarmerie force of the Republic of Turkey}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Gendarmerie General Command
| nativename = {{lang|tr|Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı}}
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| patch = File:Emblem of the Turkish Gendarmerie.png
| patchcaption = Emblem of the Gendarmerie General Command
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| flag = File:Flag of Turkish General Command of Gendarmerie.svg
| flagcaption = Flag of the Gendarmerie General Command
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| preceding1 = Gendarmerie Organisation
| preceding2 = Ottoman Gendarmerie
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| employees = 198,317 active personnel{{cite web | url=https://www.jandarma.gov.tr/jandarma-genel-komutanligi-2023-yili-faaliyet-raporu-yayinlandi | title=Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı 2023 Yılı Faaliyet Raporu }}
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| country = Turkey
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| gendarmerie = yes
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| headquarters = Ankara
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| minister1name = Ali Yerlikaya
| minister1pfo = Minister of the Interior
| chief1name = General Arif Çetin
| chief1position = Commander
| chief2name = General Ali Çardakçı
| chief3name = Lt. General
Halis Zafer KOÇ
| chief2position = Deputy Commander
| chief3position = Deputy Commander
| chief4name = Lt. General İsmail BALIBEK
| chief4position = Deputy Commander
| chief5name = Lt.
General Hüseyin KURTOĞLU
| chief5position = Deputy Commander
| parentagency = Ministry of the Interior, Turkish Armed Forces,{{Cite web |url=https://www.tr.undp.org/content/turkey/en/home/projects/strengthening-the-civilian-oversight-of-internal-security-forces.html |title=Strengthening the Civilian Oversight of Internal Security Forces Phase III |access-date=2021-06-17 |archive-date=2021-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201051/https://www.tr.undp.org/content/turkey/en/home/projects/strengthening-the-civilian-oversight-of-internal-security-forces.html |url-status=dead }} (in wartime until 2016)
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| activity1name = Operation Attila
| activity2name = Turkey-PKK Conflict
| activity3name = Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War
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| website = {{nowrap|[http://www.jandarma.gov.tr/ jandarma.gov.tr/]}}
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The Gendarmerie General Command ({{langx|tr|Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı}}) is the national gendarmerie force of the Republic of Turkey. It is a service branch of the Turkish Ministry of Interior responsible for the maintenance of the public order in areas that fall outside the jurisdiction of police forces (generally in rural areas), as well as assuring internal security along with carrying out other specific duties assigned to it by certain laws and regulations. In wartime, some of its elements can be subordinated to Turkish Land Forces by the President of Turkey.
The Commander of the Gendarmerie reports to the Minister of the Interior.
The Gendarmerie has its roots in the Ottoman Empire military law enforcement organization "Subaşı" (later known as the "Zaptiye"). A similar, earlier force called "Şurta" existed during the medieval Seljuq Empire.
History
=Ottoman era=
{{main|Ottoman Gendarmerie}}
After the abolition of the Janissary corps of the Ottoman Empire in 1826, military organizations called Asâkir-i Muntazâma-i Mansûre, Asâkir-i Muntazâma-i Hâssa, and, in 1834, Asâkir-i Redîfe were established for security and public order in Anatolia and in some provinces of Rumelia.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
File:British Officers in the Ottoman Gendarmerie Graphic June 25 1904.JPG
As the first use of the term Gendarmerie was in the Assignment Decrees published in the years following the 1839 Edict of Gülhane, it is assumed that the Gendarmerie organization was founded after that year, but the exact date of foundation has not yet been determined. Therefore, the date on which the name Asâkir-i Zaptiye Nizâmnâmesi was adopted, June 14, 1839, is usually considered the foundation date of the Turkish Gendarmerie.{{cite web| url=http://www.jandarma.tsk.tr/ing/tarihce/history.htm| title=THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE GENDARMERIE GENERAL COMMAND| website=Jandarma.tsk.tr| access-date=July 25, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625190930/http://www.jandarma.tsk.tr/ing/tarihce/history.htm| archive-date=June 25, 2012| url-status=dead| df=mdy-all}}
After the 1877–1878 Russo-Turkish War, Ottoman prime minister Mehmed Said Pasha decided to bring police officers from Britain and France to establish a modern law enforcement organization. The Gendarmerie was used to great effect after the 1908 Young Turk Revolution, particularly in Rumelia. In 1909, the Gendarmerie was affiliated with the Ministry of War, and its name was changed to the Gendarmerie General Command ({{langx|ota|Umûm Jandarma Kumandanlığı}}).
Gendarmerie units continued their internal security duties as well as taking part in the conflict at various fronts as a part of the Armed Forces during World War I and the Turkish War of Independence.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
=Republic of Turkey=
==20th century==
File:Topkapı sarayında nöbetçi Jandarma Eri.jpg gendarme on guard at Topkapı Palace in Istanbul]]
The Gendarmerie organization achieved its current legal status on June 10, 1930. In 1939, the Gendarmerie organization was restructured, having three groups: Fixed Gendarmerie Units, Mobile Gendarmerie Units, and Gendarmerie Training Units and Schools.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
In 1956, the Gendarmerie General Command was assigned the duties of protecting borders, coasts and territorial waters, and fighting smuggling, which had been previously carried out by the Gümrük Umum Kumandanlığı, under the Ministry of Customs and Monopoly. In 1957, Gendarmerie Border Units were transformed into brigades, and Gendarmerie Training Brigades were established.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
In 1961, Gendarmerie Regional Commands were established. In 1968, the first Gendarmerie Aviation Unit was established in Diyarbakır under the name of Light Helicopter Company Command.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
In 1974, Gendarmerie Commando Units and Gendarmerie Aviation Units took part in the Turkish military operations in Cyprus.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
In 1988, the duty of protecting the land borders and ensuring their security was assigned to the Land Forces Command, but Gendarmerie General Command still holds the responsibility for some parts of the Iranian and Syrian borders and the whole Iraqi border.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
The Gendarmerie Criminal Department was founded in Ankara in 1993 and from 1994, Gendarmerie Regional Criminal Laboratory Superiorities{{?}} were founded. Crime Scene Examination Teams, Explosive Material Disposal Units, Fingerprints and Palm Prints Branches and Crime Scene Examination Units were also established.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
==21st century==
In 2016, the Gendarmerie General Command was affiliated to the Ministry of Interior.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jandarma.gov.tr/tarihce|title=Tarihçe|website=jandarma.gov.tr|access-date=2020-02-08}}
In 2018, Gendarmerie Special Operations participated in Operation Olive Branch, part of the Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, Turkish Gendarmerie killed 500 Syrian civilians at the Turkish-Syrian border.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-30 |title=Syria–Turkey border {{!}} Turkish Jandarma shot child while working in farmland west of Idlib |url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/236981/ |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights}}
The Gendarmerie General Command currently has a total of 3,600 units, including 3,056 Internal Security Units, 218 Commando Units, 162 Prison Units, 160 Protection Units and four Aviation Units.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
Duties
The duties of the gendarmerie according to the Law No. 2803 on the Organization, Duties and Powers of the Gendarmerie; It is categorized under four main titles as judicial, military, civil and other duties.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.5.2803.pdf |title=JANDARMA TEŞKİLAT, GÖREV VE YETKİLERİ KANUNU |website=mevzuat.gov.tr }}
= Judicial duties =
- Finding crimes and criminals,
- Capturing suspects,
- Transferring evidence judicial authorities,
- Conduct preparatory investigations when instructed to by the public prosecutor,
- Transporting prisoners between jails and courthouses.
= Civil duties =
- To ensure that the services for general safety and security are carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation,
- To carry out the services of informing the public about how to protect the society from public order crime, directing children and young people to crime and taking precautionary measures,
- To evaluate the information and statistics about public order crimes, to conduct or have an analysis of the crime and to determine the methods of combating crime to prevent public order crimes by evaluating them,
- Carrying out activities to prevent crime,
- Preventing, pursuing and investigating smuggling,
- External protection of penal institutions and detention centers.
= Military duties =
- To perform military services provided by law
= Other duties =
- These are duties other than judicial, military and civil duties, such as facility and personal protection and transport security, which must be carried out in accordance with laws and regulations, orders and decisions.
Structure
{{see also|List of general commanders of the Turkish Gendarmerie}}
= Commands =
Gendarmerie General Command Headquarters (Ankara)
- Gendarmerie Security Corps Command (Van)
- 23. Gendarmerie Border Division (Şırnak)
- 21. Gendarmerie Border Brigade (Yüksekova)
- 1. Gendarmerie Commando Brigade (Çakırsöğüt, Şırnak)
- 2. Gendarmerie Commando Brigade (Bornova, İzmir)
- Gendarmerie Training Command (Ankara, İncek, Gölbaşı)
- 1. Gendarmerie Training Battalion Command (Aydın)
- 2. Gendarmerie Training Battalion Command (Bilecik)
- 3. Gendarmerie Training Battalion Command (Ezine, Çanakkale)
- 5. Gendarmerie Training Regiment Command (Gölköy, Kastamonu)
- 6. Gendarmerie Commando Training Regiment Command (Kırkağaç, Manisa)
- 7. Gendarmerie Commando Training Regiment Command (Yenifoça, İzmir)
- Gendarmerie Combat Training Battalion Command (Seferihisar, İzmir)
- Gendarmerie Transport Battalion Command (Söğüt, Bilecik)
- 10. Gendarmerie Training Regiment Command (Bornova, İzmir)
- 116. Gendarmerie Private Training Regiment Command (Çanakkale)
- 121. Gendarmerie Training Regiment Command (Serinyol, Antakya)
- 125. Gendarmerie Training Regiment Command (Safranbolu, Karabük)
- Işıklar Gendarmerie NCO High School (Bursa) ( was established in 1845 as "Mekteb-i Fünun-u İdadi"')
- Gendarmerie Horse and Dog Training Center Command (Nevşehir) (JAKEM)
- Gendarmerie Logistics Command (Güvercinlik, Ankara)
- Gendarmerie Aviation Command (Güvercinlik, Ankara)
- Gendarmerie UAV Command (Elazığ)
- Gendarmerie Special Public Security Command (JÖAK)
- Gendarmerie Special Operations (JÖH){{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-police-gendarmerie-forces-join-afrin-operation/1077066|title=Turkish police, gendarmerie forces join Afrin operation|website=aa.com.tr|access-date=2020-02-08}}
- Gendarmerie Search and Rescue Battalion Command (JAK){{Cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/rescue-teams-find-bodies-of-two-missing-hikers-149996|title=Rescue teams find bodies of two missing hikers - Turkey News|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=18 December 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-08}}
- Gendarmerie Underwater Search and Rescue Teams (SAK){{Cite web|url=https://en.nationalhaber.com/the-sak-team-dives-for-waste-this-time-national-news/|title=The SAK team dives for waste this time National News|date=2019-10-31|website=National News|language=tr|access-date=2020-02-08}}
- Gendarmerie Public Security Boat Commands (Security and public order services at inland waters are carried out by the Gendarmerie Public Order Boat Commands.)
- Village guards
- Prison Gendarmerie Division Commands (There are garrison stations appointed in every prison)
- The Gendarmerie Band Command{{Cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-gendarmerie-band-welcomes-arrival-of-winter-with-game-of-thrones-tribute-115593|title=Turkish gendarmerie band welcomes arrival of winter with 'Game of Thrones' tribute|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=17 July 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-08}}
= Criminal units =
- Provincial Gendarmerie Commands in 81 provinces & in 388 districts.
- The Crime Scene Investigation Teams (CSIT) (Working under the Provincial and District Gendarmerie Commands systematically examine the crime scene by means of technical and scientific methods; properly gather physical evidences; pack and send them to forensic laboratories.)
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams ( which have been established in tourism regions, regions with a concentration of terror incidents and big cities, dispose of explosive ordnances.)
- Crime scene investigation units{{Cite web|url=https://i2.cnnturk.com/i/cnnturk/75/450x225/5926cd3761361f1a70dfb705.jpg|title=photo of csi unit}}
- Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department (ASOCD){{Cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/a-ton-of-marijuana-found-afloat-off-ayvalik-coast-143248|title=A ton of marijuana found afloat off Ayvalık coast - Turkey News|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=8 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-08}}
- Gendarmerie Intelligence Organization
= Other units =
- Gendarmerie Traffic Teams
- The Gendarmerie Motorcycled Public Order Teams (Round-the-clock at the highways established by the protocols in the responsibility areas of the Gendarmerie General Command.)
- Gendarmerie Dog Teams
- Gendarmerie Environmental Protection Teams (Environmental Protection Teams have been established in order to protect environment, ecological balance and natural life, to protect living species and areas protected by national legislation and international conventions and to prevent environmental pollution.){{Cite web|url=https://www.jandarma.gov.tr/asayis/jandarma-cevre-koruma-timleri|title=Jandarma Çevre Koruma Timleri|website=jandarma.gov.tr|access-date=2020-02-08}}
- The Gendarmerie Mounted Units (Used in performing patrolling services at resort areas, forestlands, recreation spots and museums (Topkapı Palace), and in performing preventive law enforcement services.){{Cite web|url=http://www.fiep.org/member-forces/turkish-gendarmerie/|title=Turkish Gendarmerie|last1=Netherl|first1=Royal|last2=Marechaussee|first2=s|website=FIEP {{!}} International Association of Gendarmeries and Police Forces with Military Statues|date=16 May 2011 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-08}}
Jurisdiction
The Gendarmerie General Command has jurisdiction over 93 percent of Turkey's territory, focusing on rural and border areas, and serves approximately 20 percent of the population. The remaining areas fall under the jurisdiction of the police department.{{cite web | last=Bozkurt | first=Abdullah | title=A Turkish General Who Commands the Second-Largest Law Enforcement Agency Is Linked to the Mafia | website=Middle East Forum | date=29 Oct 2023 | url=https://www.meforum.org/a-turkish-general-who-commands-the-second-largest | access-date=25 Dec 2024}}
Led by a four-star general and organized into multiple commands, the Gendarmerie comprises nearly 195,218 to 200,000 personnel. It plays a central role in maintaining security in rural regions that are often targeted by criminal groups for smuggling, human and drug trafficking.
The Gendarmerie is a member of the NATO Stability Policing Centre of Excellence (NATO SP COE) and the International Association of Gendarmeries and Police Forces with Military Status (FIEP).{{cite web | title=A Turkish general who commands the second-largest law enforcement agency is linked to mafia | website=Nordic Monitor | date=29 Oct 2023 | url=https://nordicmonitor.com/2023/10/a-turkish-general-who-commands-the-second-largest-law-enforcement-agency-involved-with-mafia-and-organized-crime-figures/ | access-date=25 Dec 2024}}
Ranks
=Officers=
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{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}} {{Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies/OF/Turkey (Gendarmerie)}} |
=Other Ranks=
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{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Blank}} {{Ranks and insignia of NATO armies/OR/Turkey (Gendarmerie)}} |
The Gendarmerie Museum
The Gendarmerie Museum is established in order to reflect the developments in periodical order beginning with the foundation of the Gendarmerie organization; to exhibit its activities, heroic deeds, services in the history; to protect all kinds of military cultural assets related to the Gendarmerie by collecting them and to transfer them to the future generations.
The Gendarmerie Museum in the Beytepe Lieutenant General İsmail SELEN Quarters in Ankara and is open to public.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jandarma.gov.tr/|title=T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı|website=jandarma.gov.tr|access-date=2020-02-08}}
Equipment
{{see also|Military equipment of Turkey}}
=Vehicles and Aerial vehicles=
Additional info : Gendarmerie also acquired 130 basic and 5 professional Micro UAV systems.{{Cite web |title=Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı 2023 Yılı Faaliyet Raporu Yayınlandı. |url=https://www.jandarma.gov.tr/jandarma-genel-komutanligi-2023-yili-faaliyet-raporu-yayinlandi |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=www.jandarma.gov.tr}}
Planned acquisition : Planned acquisition of new liaison and utility aircraft. Planned acquisition of 10 + 5 optional training aircraft.{{Cite web |title=SSB Gendarmerie training aircraft project |url=https://www.ssb.gov.tr/Website/contentList.aspx?PageID=4753&LangID=1}}
= Surface Combatant=
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! colspan="5" |Boat |
| Name
!Origin !Quantity !Type !Details |
|---|
| ASBOT KN-35
|{{TUR}} |Security Boat |ASBOT KN-35 boats were designed and developed by ASFAT A.Ş. for the units belonging to the Gendarmerie General Command.{{Cite web |last=Tahan |first=Yunus Berat |date=2022-12-09 |title=Jandarma Komutanlığı'na ASBOT KN-35 botu teslimatı |url=https://www.defenceturk.net/jandarma-komutanligina-asbot-kn-35-botu-teslimati |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=DefenceTurk |language=tr}} |
= Retired/Reserve =
Vehicles :
Aircraft :
Helicopters :
Gallery
File:Turkish Jandarma 02.JPG|Gendarmerie's Ford Transit and a trooper
File:Renault Megane Jandarma squad car.JPG|Traffic gendarmerie's Renault Megane
File:Jandarma vehicle.JPG|Gendarmerie interceptor
File:Sivas Jandarma Kışlası (tarihî).jpg|Jandarma Barracks in Sivas built in 1908
File:Jandarma Müzesi.jpg|Gendarmerie museum
File:Jandarma also shares the road (3823879221).jpg|BTR-80 in the gendarmerie inventory
File:Soma mine disaster16.JPG|Gendarmerie Search and Rescue Battalion Command teams during Soma mine disaster
File:Bursa - ışıklar askeri lisesi giriş kapısı - panoramio.jpg|Işıklar Gendarmerie NCO Vocational School
File:Jandarma ve Sahil Güvenlik Akademisi.jpg|Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy
File:Jandarma Şehitler Anıtı 2.jpg|Gendarmerie Martyrs' Memorial
File:Kızılırmak Delta horse center.jpg|The Kızılırmak Delta is guarded by the mounted gendarme team
File:SikorskyS-70i TurkishGendarmerie Teknofest2019 (3).jpg|Sikorsky S-70i helicopter of the Turkish Gendarmerie
List of commanders
{{main|List of general commanders of the Turkish Gendarmerie}}
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}