Live and let live

Counsellor, referee, "village sheriff" - Dirk Hackländer takes on very different roles, often in one single working day. A versatility that appeals to the 59-year-old police officer, whose main place of work has been Bethel for five years now. His work includes not only the usual police responsibilities, but also some Bethel-typical "special tasks". In addition to professional expertise, this also requires a knowledge of human nature and empathy.

Dirk Hackländer feels at home in Bethel. "People are tolerant and look after each other well." The community spirit in the village is something special, he says. "Christmas market or Bethel athletics - we simply belong in Bethel." The phone rings just as often. Citizens from the village report lost property or new graffiti, need advice or have a police question that they don't want to call 110. "Of course, we can't always help, but we deal with people's problems as far as our time allows. A lot of things are not even relevant to criminal law. Some people just want someone to listen." Personal encounters are also important: "For some, the world ends at the supermarket. They wouldn't go to any other police station than ours." Of course, there are also real criminal offences in Bethel. One morning, a resident on Bohnenbachweg had stones in the petrol tank of her car and the wheel nuts were loose. "In such cases, we initiate an investigation against persons unknown." Dirk Hackländer and his colleague Maren Meyer share the time spent in the guardroom: There is always someone in the office or on patrol. "Only the arrest warrants are executed by two of us."

Even after many years of service, he still encounters new things at Bethel. For example, his participation in an ethics committee dealing with a client with challenging behaviour made a real impression on him. The local police officer remembers a completely different kind of event particularly well. A report came over the radiogram that a man armed with a machine gun was threatening passers-by outside Groß-Bethel and stopping cars. "I knew the man and knew straight away that it was a fake. He doesn't have a real gun." Nevertheless, the control centre sent reinforcements, the man was overpowered and taken to the Bethel Psychiatric and Psychotherapy Clinic. "He was mentally ill and hadn't taken his medication," it turned out. "If I hadn't known him, things would have turned out differently - it could have turned into an SEK operation."

Dirk Hackländer is often asked to act as a mediator, and not just in the classic "dispute at the garden fence". Requests also come from the Bethel homes: "Can't you come round and talk to our client? Preferably in uniform!" staff sometimes ask for his support. "Of course, we have to adapt our language, be patient and sometimes explain things twice. But it has an effect." His uniform not only gives him authority, but also builds trust. It is often not a question of punishing challenging or criminal behaviour, but rather of having a cautionary conversation. Counselling with the specialist staff is mandatory - how can the person be approached, how receptive is he or she or how aggressive? There are many conspicuous people in Bethel, but only a few are violent. Even in inclusive residential areas, there is hardly any friction between people with and without disabilities. "Internal disputes within the shared flat are more common. That's when I'm asked to act as an arbitrator." Of course, there are also people who don't accept help. "As long as they don't commit a criminal offence or endanger themselves, my motto is 'live and let live'."

Text: Robert Burg | Picture: Matthias Cremer