True heroes sometimes wear badges
8 November 2026 (Athens, Greece) – The recent actions of police officers in Kraków during yesterday’s mass shooting are a powerful, living example of confronting and neutralizing evil to establish a just peace and protect one’s neighbors.
Jakub Kulik, a former paratrooper who recently joined the Krakow police force, proved what heroism looks like. When a heavily armed individual shot his own family and began randomly firing at people on the street, Jakub and his partner, Artur Moranski, didn’t hesitate. Armed only with pistols, they went up against a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, essentially shielding civilians with their own bodies.
Despite taking fire, they kept fighting. Jakub was hit three times – one bullet devastating his lung – but he refused to back down until the threat was completely neutralized. Only after the shooter was down did Jakub collapse and apply a tourniquet to his wounded arm.
This speaks volumes about the caliber of individuals serving in Polish police. Poland has every reason to be proud – their police force is willing to pay the ultimate price to keep people safe.
All the videos are horrific. A Ukrainian visiting the square videoed many of the shootings which I will not show you.
But I will show you two – the confrontation as Jakub kept shooting to neutralize the shooter, as the shooter, though wounded, kept shooting at him. Jakub and the shooter were then was attended to by passerby and medical teams.
I have had the privilege of visiting Kraków. It is less about checking off monuments and more about the profound privilege of connecting with its resilient, warm, and deeply cultured people. While the city boasts jaw-dropping architecture that survived the devastations of World War II intact, the true heartbeat of Kraków is found in the everyday hospitality, storytelling, and spirit of the Krakowianie (the people of Kraków). From the artisans preserving centuries-old traditions to the university students driving a bustling contemporary café culture, engaging with locals transforms a standard holiday into an unforgettable cultural exchange. Please, visit this remarkable city.