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Sabine Sütterlin-Waack (CDU), Minister for the Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Sport, sits in the meeting of the Interior and Legal Affairs Committee of the State Parliament in the State House.
© Marcus Brandt/dpa
A police officer in Mölln has been making racist comments for years.
Only after a report has been made to the anti-racism office will consequences be drawn.
The Interior Minister speaks of leadership failure.
Kiel - The Schleswig-Holstein police have been working on a comprehensive case of racist behavior, fraud and data misuse in the Mölln police station (Duchy of Lauenburg district) since 2022.
This was announced by the deputy state police director, Hartmut Kunz, and the head of the Ratzeburg police department, Bernd Olbrich, on Friday.
Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack (CDU) spoke of a leadership failure.
A police officer has since been relieved of duty, said Olbrich.
He did not provide any details about the content of the allegations.
The starting point of the investigation was statements made by a senior police officer during a patrol with a junior colleague in May 2022.
“What was allegedly said represents National Socialist ideas, is discriminatory, degrading, inhumane and therefore raises considerable doubts about the police officer’s loyalty to the constitution,” said Olbrich.
After some time, the younger officer informed the police anti-racism and values officer.
As a result, searches were carried out.
Evidence of fraud, for example regarding working hours and data misuse, was also found.
A criminal case for sedition was discontinued in October 2022 due to the lack of a public statement.
The investigation was later expanded to include six additional police officers.
Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against three managers, among other things because they tolerated such statements and influenced a witness.
“These allegations are serious because high demands are placed on managers in the state police,” said Olbrich.
The police officers have been transferred and no longer have any leadership functions.
According to the investigation, there have been racist comments in the Mölln police station since 2015.
Kunz emphasized that the state police protect the free-democratic basic order and stand for neutrality, equal rights for all people and for diversity.
“Police officers who trample on these values through their behavior have no place in our state police.”
Sütterlin-Waack described the incidents as nothing to excuse or justify.
“The Schleswig-Holstein State Police stands for adhering to our values.
Any misconduct will be rigorously pursued.
“That also happened in this case,” said the minister.
In this case, managers would have failed.
“Criminal investigations are underway against all officers involved in the incidents.
Disciplinary proceedings have already been initiated.”
The immediate, consistent and professional processing of this case that has already taken place also shows that the instruments introduced in recent years, such as the internal police early warning system and the various contact points, are being used, emphasized the minister.
“The state police have consistently pursued any misconduct with a zero-tolerance line and will continue to do so.”
The topic of right-wing extremism is dealt with intensively in the training of police officers and is also repeatedly discussed in further training courses, says Sütterlin-Waack.
“We must not and will not let up here.”
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The CDU district chairman and Mölln state parliament member Rasmus Vöge emphasized that right-wing extremism, xenophobia and other unconstitutional activities should not exist in the police.
“I am particularly shocked by what happened in Mölln.
The fact that, of all people, officers in the Mölln police were on duty who made xenophobic comments and whose loyalty to the constitution is questioned is devastating.” Vöge recalled the arson attacks of 1992 and the resulting reconciliation work and intercultural coexistence in Mölln.
Green MP Jan Kürschner praised the police leadership for their immediate and clear positioning.
“The Schleswig-Holstein police cannot and will not tolerate racist and criminal behavior in their ranks.”
For the FDP parliamentary group, MP Bernd Buchholz said he found it particularly frightening that a state police officer appears to have repeatedly made right-wing extremist, xenophobic and inhumane comments over a period of seven years without this being reported internally to the police and without early consequences have led.
“The leadership of the state police will have to work out whether there was an environment of fear or even latent approval in the department.”
The SPD member of the state parliament Niclas Dürbrook also expressed concern, especially about the long period of time over which the statements were made.
“This raises questions about group dynamics and serious leadership problems on site in Mölln.” He expects the state government to explain to parliament promptly what the events in Mölln mean for the future handling of such incidents in the state police.
The SSW parliamentary group leader Lars Harms paid respect to the junior police officer who had put an end to the goings-on by reporting to the anti-racism officer.
“The fact that a police officer was able to appear and act in a racist manner, even using National Socialist rhetoric, on duty for a whole seven years without being bothered makes me shudder,” said Harms.
dpa