This is a list of people killed by non-military law enforcement officers in Poland, both on duty and off, and regardless of reason or method. Inclusion in the lists implies neither wrongdoing nor justification on the part of the person killed or the officer involved; the listing merely documents the occurrence of a death.
Since 1990
Date Name (age)of deceasedPlaceVoivodeship Description2025-07-31N.N. (45)SosnowiecSilesian VoivodeshipPolice responded to reports of a man with a machete damaging parked cars and a bus. He was shot five times, and died in hospital. It was later revealed that he was actually holding a metal pipe.2024-11-23N.N. (35)WarsawMasovian VoivodeshipWhile responding to a report of an aggressive man wielding a machete, a junior officer shot his colleague, who died in hospital. 2021-12-16Tomasz N.WydminyWarmian–Masurian VoivodeshipPolice officer Mateusz C. shot a drunk man resisting arrest at very close range, killing him. Another officer was injured after the bullet passed through the man's body and struck her wrist. Mateusz C. was fired and given a one-year suspended prison sentence. 2021-04-19 Łukasz P. (36)Ruda ŚląskaSilesian VoivodeshipPolice officers shot dead man after he rammed three police cars and aimed at the officers with a gun. 2020-12-22 N.N. (32)PłockMasovian VoivodeshipPolice officers used tear gas against an aggressively behaving driver, who later died in a hospital. 2020-06-27 Dariusz Nawara (28)KościeliskoLesser Poland VoivodeshipPolice officer shot dead man accused of robbery. 2020-06-18 N.N. (31)ŻyrardówMasovian VoivodeshipPolice officer shot dead woman who attacked him with knife after stabbing a man. 2019-11-14 Adam Czerniejewski (21)KoninGreater Poland VoivodeshipPolice officer shot dead man who tried to escape from identity check. He was armed with scissors. 2019-07-26 N.N. (30)LipskoMasovian VoivodeshipPolice officer shot and killed man who attacked him with knife. 2018-07-21 N.N.OlsztynWarmian–Masurian Voivodeship Police officer shot seven times drunk man who tried to escape from police. He died the next day in hospital. The officer was criminally charged. 2018-05-23 N.N. (43)OpoleOpole Voivodeship Police officer shot dead man armed with pneumatic gun who was vandalizing a police car. 2017-12-15 Adrian Z.KrakówLesser Poland Voivodeship Counter-terrorism officer fatally shot a gangster during arrest 2017-12-02 N.N. (42)Wisznia MałaLower Silesian Voivodeship Police officers shot dead man who opened machine gun fire on them, which killed an officer and wounded three others.2017-06-21N.NMiliczLower Silesian VoivodeshipTwo men broke into a gas station and stole cigarettes in Dobrzyca, Greater Poland Voivodeship. They then crossed the border into Lower Silesian Voivodeship while being pursued on foot by police through a forest. One of the thieves shot a police officer in the neck; the shooter was then shot in the leg and died of his wounds at the scene.2016-12-31 Cezary S. ŻychlinŁódź Voivodeship Police officer Łukasz M. killed a trader of cigarettes and alcohol Cezary S. with six gunshots, to whom he owed 20,000 PLN2016-08-12 Cezary S.SzczecinWest Pomeranian VoivodeshipPolice officer shot dead man who tried to escape from road check. He was sentenced to one and a half years in prison in 20192016-05-15 Igor Stachowiak (26)WrocławLower Silesian Voivodeship Igor Stachowiak was tased multiple times by four police officers, which may have caused his death. The officers were sentenced to from 2 to 2.5 years in prison in 20192015-12-21N.N. GdyniaPomeranian VoivodeshipA man was shot after he opened fire on police officers that entered his apartment while carrying out an arrest warrant. He was wanted in connection to a murder.2015-05-02 Dawid D. (27)KnurówSilesian Voivodeship Pseudo-fan died after being shot with rubber bullet during riots after football match. Police officer who killed him was later cleared of charges2014-12-15 N.N.SosnowiecSilesian Voivodeship Police officer shot dead man who robbed the bank2014-07-14 N.N. (56)Ruda ŚląskaSilesian Voivodeship Police officers shot an aggressively behaving psychiatric hospital patient in the thigh and torso. He died later on the operating table 2011-01-15 Andrzej Swoszowski (28)TuchówLesser Poland Voivodeship Police officers opened fire at a stolen car 2010-10-10 N.N. (69)ŻarSilesian Voivodeship, Police officers shot dead man who opened fire on them 2010-05-24 Maxwell ItoyaWarsawMasovian Voivodeship Maxwell Itoya died after being shot when trying to talk to the policeman 2009-10-16 Krzysztof K.DusznikiGreater Poland Voivodeship Man died after shootout with police 2009-06-13 Grzegorz P.BoruczaMasovian Voivodeship Police officer shot dead a mentally ill man who attacked him with a knife. He was later cleared of charges. 2006-07-27 Marcin K. (21)ChodelLublin Voivodeship Motorcyclist was shot ten times after failed to stop for a security check. He died from spine wounds 2004-10-09 N.N.KutnoŁódź Voivodeship Police officers shot dead gangster during arrest 2004-05-08 Monika Kelm (23)ŁódźŁódź Voivodeship Police shot dead two people during riots Damian Tybura (19) 2004-04-29 Łukasz T. (19)PoznańGreater Poland Voivodeship Police officers opened fire at car which failed to stop for a security check. 2003-06-13 Józef Ł.Zielona GóraLubusz Voivodeship Police officers shot dead gangster who was trying to steal his gun 2003-01-21 Piotr R.WarsawMasovian Voivodeship Two gangsters were killed in shootout with police. Krzysztof M. 2002-08-06 N.N. (37)Wola PodłężnaGreater Poland Voivodeship Man was killed in shootout with police after he shot them with shotgun 2002-06-22 N.N.Tomaszów LubelskiLublin Voivodeship Man was killed in shootout with police after trying to rob bureau de change with gas weapon 2001-01-28 Sierhij K.ŚwidnikLublin Voivodeship He was shot dead after he didn't stop for security check 2000-06-23 N.N.GłogówLower Silesian Voivodeship Police officers shot dead man who opened fire on them 2000-03-14 Ryszard KarczewskiWarsawMasovian Voivodeship Police officer mistakenly shot and killed a vet while trying to catch tiger that escaped from a circus. 2000-01-08 Krzysztof P. (26)WarsawMasovian Voivodeship Police officers shot dead car thief 1999-10-15 Valeri Bermes (34)KrakówLesser Poland Voivodeship Anti-terrorist units killed gangster after he opened fire on them 1999-06-16 Michał Filipek (23)SosnowiecSilesian Voivodeship He was killed by four police officers who have beaten him with batons. Three of them were later sentenced to years in prison. 1998-01-10 Przemysław Czaja (13)SłupskSłupsk Voivodeship (now part of Pomeranian Voivodeship) During the 1998 Słupsk street riots, police officer caught up to a member of the group crossing the street on red light, the 13-year-old Przemysław Czaja, and repeatedly hit his head and neck using his baton. At 8:20 p.m. the boy died. 1997-03-09 Robert R. (25)Warsaw Warsaw Voivodeship (now part of Masovian Voivodeship) Police officer was trying to catch a criminal. He shot his firearm into the air which alarmed men who approached him while carrying baseball bats. He shot two of them dead and injured third. In 1999 he was sentenced for years in prison, however he was pardoned by president Aleksander Kwaśniewski in 2002. Stanisław Ż. (54) 1997-01-06 Robert J. (19)ŁomazyBiała Podlaska Voivodeship (now part of Lublin Voivodeship) Police officer shot dead man during interrogation at the police station. He was later sentenced for 15 years in prison
1945–1990
Date Name (age)of deceased Description1984-10-19 Jerzy Popiełuszko (37) He was beaten to death by three Security Police officers.1982-10-13 (20) Killed by an officer of the Security Service during a steelworkers' demonstration 1981-12-17 (20) Shot in the head by a Milicja Obywatelska officer1981-12-16 (19)Striking miners killed during the Pacification of the Wujek mine. (31) (30) (28) (35) (24) (28)Józef Czekalski (48) (21)1970-12Jerzy MatelskiKilled during the December 1970 protests in PolandJózef WiderlikKazimierz StojeckiAndrzej PeszyńskiStefan MosiewiczKazimierz ZastawnyBogdan SypkaZygmunt PolitoZygmunt GlinieckiJerzy KuchcikWaldemar ZajczenkoBrunon DrywaStanisław SieradzanZbigniew GodlewskiLudwik PiernickiJan KałużnyZbigniew WycichowskiJózef PawiowskiJan PolechońskiZbigniew NastałyMarian WójcikStanisław LewandowskiJanusz ŻebrowskiJerzy SkonieczkaApolinary Formela1970-12-18 (22) Shot in the head by a police officer while walking out of a milk bar1970-12-15 (26) Killed during the Polish protests of 19701951-05-10 Józef Padewski (57) He was tortured to death by officers of the Ministry of Public Security of Poland1947-05-04Edward CytrianPolice officer shot dead boy in Mały Płock during an event.
1918–1939
Date Name (age)of deceased Description1937114 individualsAccording to speech of Prime Minister in Sejm in 19371936149 individuals157 killed by police in 1936 totally1936-03-23Józef CieślikKilled in the Jan JędrygasJanina KrasickaAndrzej ProcJan SzwedJan SzybiakPiotr WronaAntoni Żłobiński1935143 individuals1934118 individuals1933145 individuals1932141 individuals1921-08-19Stefan Cyburski (22)Killed during the Władysław Dąbrowicz (18)Franciszek Robaszyński (23)Wincenty Szukalski (37)Kazimierz Szwarc (17)Jan Tatarek (22)Jan Tyca (26)1920-04-26Kazimierz BogdaszewskiKilled during Józef DerezińskiStefan DomagałaMichał DziembalskiFranciszek KrzyśkoJan MielochMarcin RatajczakKazimierz SzkudlarekStanisław Tukaj
See also Lists of killings by law enforcement officers
References