New police chief Mitschke: Oberberg should become the safest district in North Rhine-Westphalia!

New police chief Mitschke: Oberberg should become the safest district in North Rhine-Westphalia!

There is a new man at the head of the police in Gummersbach: Chief Police Officer Stefan Mitschke has been appointed head of the department and is thus taking on an important role in ensuring the safety of people in the Oberberg district. The 46-year-old came to Gummersbach from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 1991 and is guided in his new role by solid training and extensive experience. Not only is Mitschke married and the father of two children, but he also laid the foundation for his professional career at the Wipperfürth Evangelical Confessional School.

His career, which began with training with the police, led him to his first patrol car ride in Gummersbach. Over the years he moved through various departments and rose to higher service. Among other things, he worked in state security and headed Criminal Inspectorate 6 for the Cologne Police Chief. His goal is clear: He wants to make Oberberg the safest district in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The strategy for more security

"The central concern is close cooperation with the municipalities and other "players" in order to be able to react quickly and effectively in the event of escalations," emphasizes Mitschke. The GE directorate is responsible for security and operations, and a team of around 220 officers is available for this purpose. Their tasks range from handling patrol operations to traffic accidents and domestic violence. In addition, the police stations in Gummersbach, Wipperfürth and Waldbröl are active in solving a wide range of problems involved, be it in disputes or disturbances of the peace.

One element of security policy is the district and priority service (BSD). This consists of district service officers and security guards who regularly establish contact with citizens. “Each district has around 10,000 residents,” explains Mitschke, “and our district officials are the contact person for all their concerns.” The tasks include, among other things, monitoring the way to school and special operations at folk festivals, which shows that the police are actively involved in the community.

The organization of the police in North Rhine-Westphalia

In North Rhine-Westphalia, where roads are secured by the district police authorities (KPB), a well-structured system ensures security. Of the 47 KPB and three state higher authorities (LOB), over 40,500 police officers are on duty. This organization not only protects the roads, but also the approximately 2,200 km of motorways and more than 900 km of waterways in the state. The police are subordinate to the Minister of the Interior, who has political responsibility to Parliament, as polizei.nrw emphasizes.

With the new leadership figure in Gummersbach, District Administrator Jochen Hagt is also pleased about the rapid filling of the management position following Sascha Himmel's retirement. The breath of fresh air that Stefan Mitschke brings with him could give the Oberbergischer Kreis a new impetus in security work, which will benefit both the citizens and the officials. The new director seems to have a good knack for getting to grips with the challenges of the present and creating a secure future for everyone.