Dear Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Police Medicine,

To the Honorable Editor-in-Chief,
With due respect and appreciation for the opportunity provided, this letter has been composed to propose and examine the necessity of defining and developing “Police Medicine” as an independent and essential branch of medical science, either alongside or in conjunction with Military Medicine.
As its name suggests, Police Medicine specifically focuses on the provision of medical care during and after police and border security missions. Given the high-risk nature and operational particularities of law enforcement and border guard activities, this field entails unique requirements in the areas of health maintenance, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment — aspects that extend beyond the scope of general medicine or even conventional combat medicine.
Although current medical training programs for police and border personnel are often limited to basic first aid and fundamental medical knowledge, the complex and diverse nature of their missions — ranging from urban operations and counter-organized crime activities to border protection and cross-border threat response — underscores the urgent need for specialized protocols and dedicated medical expertise. Unfortunately, such comprehensive and standardized academic or operational frameworks have not yet been systematically established [1]. Neglecting this gap not only endangers the health and lives of devoted personnel but may also compromise the success and effectiveness of their critical missions.
It is hoped that by introducing this concept, a meaningful step will be taken toward recognizing and developing this neglected domain of medical science, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of the health, safety, and operational readiness of those who safeguard public order and national security.