As of: February 26, 2024, 5:24 p.m
By: Nikola Obermeier
Comments
Press
Split
In love as on the first day: Elfriede and Armin Mayer at the celebration of his 80th birthday in March 2023. © Private
He was a cheerful person.
Now Armin Mayer is dead. The former police chief died in his home in Dachau at the beginning of February.
Dachau - He was so happy, he still had so much to do - and he was torn from the middle of his life.
Armin Mayer, a police officer with heart and soul, loving and caring husband, dad, grandpa, died at the beginning of February at the age of 80.
He was with the riot police for many years, and until his retirement he moved to the Dachau police as chief.
Armin Mayer was so looking forward to his 55th wedding anniversary
“It would be my parents’ 55th wedding anniversary this year,” says Sonja Heinicke, daughter of Elfriede and Armin Mayer.
“And dad was so looking forward to it, he was in love like he was on the first day.” Every year he celebrated the day they met, and of course the wedding anniversary anyway.
On January 10th, 55 years ago, the two met for the first time in the Bergbahn Café in Lenggries.
Elfriede from Oberschleissheim stopped there after skiing, Armin Mayer, a native of Lenggries, was in the café with a friend.
He noticed that her car had a Stuttgart license plate - because Elfriede had worked there - and explained to her that she had to re-register it.
“Then I said to him: You probably won’t be a police officer, because I don’t like them at all,” reports Elfriede Mayer.
He then hid his job from her for three months - until it eventually came out.
In the meantime she had changed her mind: the wedding took place on October 24, 1969.
Armin Mayer was a family man through and through.
First, daughter Tanja, now 52 years old, was born when the small family still lived in Neufahrn, followed by Sonja, 47, after moving to Dachau.
His free time belonged to his family: “He got involved wherever we were, for example in the boys’ band,” reports his daughter.
Her parents were youth guides at the time and looked after the young musicians at performances, whether at Tegernsee or in Italy.
Later Armin Mayer was even chairman of the KKD and honorary chairman.
Italy was his passion
Italy in general: “This country was his passion,” says Elfriede Mayer.
It was his big dream to have a home there – “and he fulfilled it,” said the younger daughter.
Elfriede and Armin Mayer often enjoyed going to Lake Garda and had Italian friends.
And the whole extended family traveled with us.
“We spent a lot of time together and went to Italy every summer,” says Sonja.
“My older daughter Leni learned to swim from her grandfather, he played soccer with the boys, went to soccer tournaments and ballet performances.”
Grandpa made incredible use of his time with his six grandchildren.
Armin Mayer was with the riot police for many years, including as a platoon leader, operations manager, trainer, teacher and hundred leader.
In 1996 he took over the Dachau police department as chief.
“It was very important to him to represent the department well to the outside world,” reports his long-time colleague Richard Wacht.
Armin Mayer introduced citizens' consultation hours in town halls and a visit by the police to citizens' meetings; he maintained contacts with communities, mayors and authorities.
This benefited everyone: if something was urgent in the area of traffic, for example, he picked up the phone and sorted it out. “He was a man of action,” says Wacht.
Albert Kapitza valued his boss as a practical person
Albert Kapitza, Mayer's deputy at the time, also valued his boss as a practical person, “he was a clever fox, a strategist.
As a boss, Mayer was “great, sometimes strict, but always fair.”
Mayer's word carried weight within the police department.
A “tactically clever move” was the introduction of the five-shift model, which, in contrast to the usual four shifts, has several advantages for the police officers - and has been successful in the long term.
“I thought it was brilliant,” says Kapitza.
My news
The end of the poplars on Waldschwaigweglesen
42 mins ago
Several thefts from cars in the Dachaulesen district
Bang at the general meeting – discrepancies among horse lovers
Fast Internet versus cultural property: Court dispute over cell phone tower – “There is a formal problem” read
Mourning for popular family doctor Dr.
Tailor reading
BMW crashes into gritting vehicle: 20-year-old seriously injured read
Richard Wacht emphasizes that good connections with citizens and the public were also important to Armin Mayer.
The police chief at the time organized the last open day, which was attended by thousands of visitors, as well as a castle concert under the patronage of Christiane Herzog, the wife of the former Federal President Roman Herzog.
When she died two years later, prominent mourners came to Dachau, including former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, former Federal Presidents Richard von Weizsäcker and Walter Scheel.
“This was one of the largest operations under the leadership of Armin Mayer,” reports Wacht.
As a boss, Mayer was always approachable and open to the needs and concerns of his colleagues, and people could always come to him, says Wacht.
“You should have been a priest”
“I often said to my husband: You should have become a priest,” says his wife Elfriede.
Even in retirement, many acquaintances came to talk.
“My dad always listened carefully – and if someone wanted advice, he gave it to them,” says Sonja Heinicke.
Armin Mayer was full of life and still had so much planned: a vacation in Austria, communion and confirmation of three grandchildren.
But on the morning of February 2nd, he didn't wake up.
The whole family can't believe it yet.
“He is missed everywhere and every day, no matter where we go, we did so many things together,” says his daughter.
Armin Mayer was buried in Unterbachern last week.
15-year-old Leni said in her speech in church: “Grandpa, I wanted you to choose the wedding dress with me.”
You can read more news from the Dachau region here.