NCJ Number
52921
Journal
Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 156-158
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC IS ANALYZED, AND THE POSITION OF THE GERMAN PROTESTANT CHURCH ON THIS ROLE IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
FREEDOM, AS ONE OF THE RIGHTS OF HUMAN BEINGS, CAN ONLY BE EXPRESSED IN AN ORDERED INSTITUTION; THE POLICE ARE AUTHORIZED TO PROTECT THE ORDER OF FREEDOM WITHIN THE STATE. POLICE PROTECTION OF THE ORDER OF FREEDOM IN THE STATE PROMOTES PUBLIC PEACE BY PREVENTING REVERSION TO FORCE AND EXPLOITATION OF THE HELPLESS AND WEAK BY THE LAWLESS CAPRICE OF THE MIGHTY. IF THE LEGAL STATE LOSES ITS POWERS TO SECONDARY FORCES AND INDIVIDUALLY DETERMINED JUSTICE, THE END RESULT IS TYRANNY OR CIVIL WAR. EFFECTIVE POLICE SERVICE IS BASED ON MUTUAL TRUST BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE PUBLIC. THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN WILL ONLY STAY WITHIN THE BOUNDS DEFINED BY THE ORDER OF FREEDOM IF HE IS CERTAIN THAT OTHERS WILL ALSO OBEY THE RULES; THE POLICE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OBJECTIVE ENFORCEMENT AND MUST HAVE THE TRUST OF THE CITIZENRY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE POLICE MUST KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE PUBLIC TRUST. ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS ON TERRORISM AT A GERMAN BISHOPS' CONFERENCE, THE MASS MEDIA HAVE ATTEMPTED TO UNDERMINE POLICE WORK BY BRANDING CONCEPTS LIKE LAW, ORDER, AND INSTITUTIONS AS REACTIONARY AND OUTMODED, RAISING SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT POLICE AUTHORITY AND DESTROYING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE POLICE RATHER THAN EXERCISING RESPONSIBLE CRITICISM. LEADERS OF THE GERMAN PROTESTANT CHURCH HAVE ASSERTED THAT FORCE IS IN ITSELF NOT BAD AND THAT LEGITIMATE, DEMOCRATICALLY DETERMINED POWER IS NECESSARY TO AVERT THE DOMINANCE OF UNCONTROLLED, RANDOM FORCE. --IN GERMAN (KMD)