President Dmitry Medvedev outlined on Sunday the priorities in the ongoing Russian police reform.

Medvedev, who in December ordered an extensive reform of the Interior Ministry in an effort to deal with police brutality, told journalists that the number of police personnel "needs to be reduced and wages should be raised."

"Some powers should be transferred to the federal level," he also said.

The reputation of the Russian police force hit a new low earlier this month, when Medvedev dismissed the police chief of the West Siberian Tomsk Region days after the death of a journalist who was beaten and sexually abused in a police drunk tank.

The 47-year-old journalist, whose name has not been disclosed due to the ongoing investigation, spent some two weeks in a coma after the January 4 assault before losing his fight for life.

A police officer has been charged. 26-year-old Alexei Mityayev said the stress of his complicated personal life prompted the attack, which came after the victim had been on an extended drinking binge as part of New Year celebrations.

Reports of police brutality are increasingly common in Russia. In the last 18 months, Russian police officers have been convicted or charged with burning a suspect to death, shooting sprees, and rape.

KRASNAYA POLYANA (Sochi), January 24 (RIA Novosti)