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Volunteer presence strengthens security – new volunteers wanted
Since 2007, the volunteer police service has been active in the district town of Groß-Gerau, enhancing the public's sense of security through its visible presence. One of those who has shaped this volunteer service over many years is Bernt Brettnich. After the volunteer police service was abolished in his hometown of Stockstadt, he transferred to Groß-Gerau in 2014. Now he is ending his service, having reached the age limit of 70.
At a small ceremony in the town hall, Mayor Jörg Rüddenklau , Department Head Sabine Hoffmann, Head of Public Order Lebrecht Viebahn, and Katja Vagi-Mager from the Groß-Gerau police station thanked the long-serving volunteer for his dedication. At the same time, Florian Blumenstein (30) was welcomed as a new member of the volunteer police service team.
Always available for the people in the city
The volunteers patrol Groß-Gerau and its districts on foot, providing support at events, monitoring traffic around schools and daycare centers, particularly concerning parents driving their children to school, and offering friendly advice. The focus is deliberately not on enforcement, but on being approachable. "If we walk too fast, people don't dare to approach us," Brettnich explained with a wink.
Helpfulness is part of everyday life: whether searching for a supposedly missing car or helping a child who got lost at an event – many encounters remain memorable. "The encounters with the citizens have been almost without exception positive," Brettnich concludes.
"The volunteer police service, through its presence, contributes to increasing the subjective feeling of safety in our city. I am extremely grateful for that," emphasizes Mayor Rüddenklau.
Task: Run, observe, report
Katja Vagi-Mager summarizes the core task as follows: "Walk, observe, report." The volunteers document any irregularities and forward them to the city or state police. Sanctions such as issuing parking tickets are explicitly not part of their duties. Particular attention is paid to disabled parking spaces. In critical situations, the rule is always: keep your distance and notify the police.
Volunteering with clear requirements
In Groß-Gerau, there are ten positions in the volunteer police service, six of which are currently filled. Further applicants are therefore welcome. Requirements include a high school diploma or completed vocational training, commitment to the free democratic order, and fluent German language skills. The minimum age is 18, and service is possible up to the age of 65, ending at 70.
Before deployment, approximately 50 hours of training are required, covering topics such as hazard prevention, legal principles, self-protection, communication skills, and traffic law. Volunteers receive compensation of seven euros per hour for their service, up to a maximum of 25 hours per month.
Contact and application
Interested parties can contact the Groß-Gerau town council, Office for Citizen and Public Order Affairs, Am Marktplatz 1, 64521 Groß-Gerau, by phone at +49 6152 7163000 or by email at sicherheitundordnung@gross-gerau.de . The application form is available for download on the Groß-Gerau town website .
(GROSS-GERAU – RED/PSGG)
Featured image: Bernt Brettnich (third from left) was bid farewell from the volunteer police service in Groß-Gerau. Also pictured (from left) are Katja Vagi-Mager (State Police), Florian Blumenstein (Volunteer Police Service), Department Head Sabine Hoffmann, Mayor Jörg Rüddenklau, and Head of Public Order Lebrecht Viebahn. Photo: City of Groß-Gerau/Jörg Monzheimer
