Ebersberger police officer: "The handling is becoming more disrespectful"

Created: 07/08/2022, 2:30 p.m

By: Josef Ametsbichler

"A classic neighborhood dispute often builds up over years and then ignites over small things," says Ebersberg police officer Martin Schedo (58).

© SRO

Severe trouble with the neighbors: Such an escalation is often a great stressful situation for those involved.

The Ebersberg police officer Martin Schedo reports on arguing and mediation.

Ebersberg – An ex-national goalkeeper who marauded the neighboring property with a chainsaw: The Jens Lehmann case made waves beyond the Starnberg crime scene.

In the district of Ebersberg, too, neighbors are at loggerheads – you can't choose who you live with fence to fence.

The police often have to show up.

The Ebersberg chief inspector Martin Schedo (58) explains in an interview what can still be settled and how and when hops and malt are lost.

Mr. Schedo, what do you do as a police officer when you catch Jens Lehmann brandishing a chainsaw on a neighboring property?

This is beyond a neighborhood dispute, we have a criminal offense there.

It means separating the parties, recording personal details, that goes to ad processing.

The chainsaw thing is extreme.

In general, however, such an escalation is a major stressful situation for those involved, for which a police officer has to prepare himself.

How is it that disputes between neighbors escalate like this?

A classic neighborhood dispute often builds up over years and then ignites over small things.

Like the unkempt hedge growing through the fence.

If the neighbor then cuts back on his side, which by the way is legal, then things can start.

Or it's about the neighbor's car parked on public land but right in front of the house.

Then we as the police can get the parties together and explain the legal situation to them.

Or refer them to the municipality if that is responsible.

Fortunately, not everything is a case for the police, but the citizens call us because they don't know what to do.

How can you de-escalate in such cases?

Preferably not with a baton and pepper spray.

It's better to listen to both sides separately.

People have time to slow down.

The longer it gets, the quieter it gets.

After the two talks, we already know in which direction this is going.

If there is no crime, we as mediators have the chance to bring the parties back to a normal level.

Do you have an example ready?

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Where this worked great was with a complaint about children playing soccer a few years ago.

A citizen called us and complained because the children shot the ball over to his property.

When I drove out, I saw that the complainant had already conceded four or five balls.

I had them handed out to me and explained to him that it wasn't that easy with someone else's property either.

Then I went over to the children, they were maybe seven or eight years old.

I advised them to put the gate on another corner of the property.

We then played football for another five minutes, and they were happy.

The neighbor was very surprised, but the children understood and no more complaints came from the area.

That sounds like police romance à la Hubert and Staller.

How often does such a solution succeed?

Rather rarely.

We have a large service area and our colleagues drive from one assignment to the next.

Often in such quarrels the child has already fallen into the well.

In the case of administrative offenses such as a parked driveway, a verbal warning may be sufficient.

But as the police, we have to prosecute crimes such as insults or damage to property.

What alternatives do neighbors have instead of calling the police?

Interestingly, the city of Ebersberg is currently treading a new path: Volunteers are to be trained to become mediators via the Catholic district training institute.

Mediated by the city to pacify such issues in the low-threshold area.

This is a try.

We have to wait and see empirical values.

The local mayor can also act as a mediator if the parties to the dispute turn to him.

This is quite common practice.

How much does the personality of the official matter in arbitration?

A lot, including work experience.

When the academic quarrels with the drunk unemployed person next door, there is a range where things get difficult.

Every assignment is different, every person ticks differently.

This is how misunderstandings arise.

Then, as a police officer, I have to find the words that both sides understand.

And that people reflect and understand: What are we actually arguing about?

Do people prefer to argue these days?

Rather, I think that the handling is becoming more disrespectful.

This then ignites a dispute.

Rescue workers, the police and the state in general notice this.

Everything that regulates something is perceived by some as an impertinence.

Our society is throwing out its elbows more and more.

Why is that?

I dont know.

We still live very, very well here in the district.

What is striking: the classic neighborhood as it used to be is becoming increasingly rare.

I mean looking at each other, watering the neighbor's flowers or organizing a street festival together.

Anonymity does not only exist in the skyscrapers.

I think it's important if you maintain contact with the neighbors, care, and have a positive interest.

This prevents quarrels.

In what way?

A lot of things are sparked by the fact that people don't talk to each other beforehand and say in good time: That bothers me.

Instead, the citizens get angry and become increasingly thin-skinned.

And at some point he's just waiting for an occasion for it to escalate.

Then the garbage can that is too close to the garden fence is enough.

Is there still hope for our togetherness?

Absolutely!

There are many missions where we are grateful.

And for me as a traffic educator, it is a total enrichment to work with children every day.

The bright eyes and the curiosity when you get out of the police car in front of the kindergarten, that's just beautiful.

And that gives hope that things will return to normal.

Children become adults...

We once approached a fist fight at carnival.

One of the two opponents recognized me as his examiner for the bike license.

He was so enthusiastic about it that the whole situation was completely defused.

He promised me that it would be quiet now - and that's how it was.

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