As of: March 27, 2024, 7:00 a.m
By: Tanja Brinkmann
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Police Commissioner Christian Langenmair (front) presents the certificates of appointment to the new security guard employees Andreas Schröder (l.), Martin Klieber (3rd from left), Markus Karl (3rd from right) and Frank Wittig-Messina (2nd from right), who are from the police officers Bastian Straif (2nd from left) and Andreas Breitrück (r.) are supported.
Photo: Thomas Sehr © Thomas Sehr
They are the link between citizens and the police and are now also on the move in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: The security guard begins its service with four volunteers.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
– They have your equipment.
Also the clothing that identifies them as members of the security guard.
Yesterday, Christian Langenmair, head of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen police station, presented the four men with their certificates after they passed the exam.
So Markus Karl, Martin Klieber, Andreas Schröder and Frank Wittig-Messina could get started immediately.
But they don't do it yet.
First they talk to each other and create a schedule.
And then they appear first in the pedestrian zone in the center of Garmisch.
“That makes sense,” says Police Chief Inspector Andreas Breitrück.
The higher the temperatures rise and the more public life moves outside, the locations where volunteers work change.
Security guard in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: “We don’t want anyone who sees themselves as a deputy sheriff”
It is an experiment that is now starting in the market town.
The majority of members of the local council had agreed on this for two years.
After a year and a half, the committee should evaluate the success or failure - and decide whether to continue or not.
A compromise that Mayor Elisabeth Koch (CSU) brought into play.
“She is quite critical of the whole thing,” admits Langenmair.
He still remembers her objection that “internal security is a monopoly of the state.
He can’t forgive that.”
And also because he was skeptical at first.
After all, the security guards are in uniform, with the Bavarian national emblem.
“You start to think about whether it’s going in the right direction.”
After an intensive selection process and training with 40 teaching units, the police chief can only answer this question in the affirmative.
He and his colleagues looked closely at each of the applicants, subjected them to police checks and got to know them in personal interviews.
“We don’t want anyone who sees themselves as a block warden or deputy sheriff.” Rather, the four men form the link between the citizens and the police.
Four men are present in the area - an expulsion would be possible
“Approachable” is the catchphrase that Andreas Schröder uses again and again when he talks about his future tasks.
And that applies to all citizen concerns.
“Maybe someone just needs someone to talk to.” Karl, Klieber and he have known each other for a long time; they all work for a security company that, among other things, is responsible for the US properties on the market.
Wittig-Messina, who was a soldier in the Bundeswehr until two years ago, completes the trio on patrols.
In fact, he belongs to the Schongau security guard, but completed the training with his Garmisch-Partenkirchen colleagues.
“It immediately made sense to support the pioneering work here.”
When the roster is set, the four men show their presence in town.
For this they receive an expense allowance of eight euros per hour.
They are also allowed to establish personal details which are then transmitted by radio to the office.
You can also issue a dismissal.
Or, under public law, detain someone who has just committed a crime.
But nothing more.
Everything else is the responsibility of the police.
“You’ll definitely be asked for directions or a restaurant tip,” says Breitrück.
He and his colleagues would also love to help with such questions and get more in touch with citizens.
But they can't do it.
“There isn't enough time for that.” We are therefore very pleased that the volunteers are now also getting started in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
In the area of responsibility of the Upper Bavaria-South Police Headquarters, there are now 23 security guards with 137 employees, including 48 women and 4 people with a migrant background.
Once they get started, they communicate with officials at least weekly.
Langenmair expects positive encounters with the population and an advertising effect.
“Perhaps others will feel encouraged to work here.” Other tourist-oriented municipalities could also realize “that things would be good for them too.”
Of course, they will certainly be met with skepticism at the beginning.
He and everyone involved is aware of this.
“Now it’s up to us,” says Karl, “to make the whole thing positive.”