Slovenia was the first republic to successfully break away from Yugoslavia with minimal bloodshed and today, has prospered in its new place in European society. After its split from Yugoslavia, Slovenia adopted a national police force or structure. Today, this national police force has become a model of successful adaptation to democracy and freedom. The framework for the National Police is provided by the Ministry of Justice. At the national level, the Director General of the police leads the National Police. The uniformed police directorate is responsible for the elements of traffic police, border police, marine police patrols, airport and railway police, a mounted horse police unit, K9 units, aviation units, and the police orchestra. The Slovenian National Police also maintain a unit similar to a protective services unit and is responsible for protecting domestic and visiting heads of state, as well as government buildings and institutions. Slovenia has a 4-year police high school and a Slovenian Police Academy which maintains a training and education center. In transforming from a communist dictatorship to a democracy, the Slovenian National Police has made tremendous strides in adopting Western police practices.