American reacts to: German Police (compared to American police)

Thank you for watching me, a humble American, react to German Police

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[vielcollins]

As a Swiss national who has traveled to over 90 countries, I can attest to the exceptional quality of the German police force. Having lived in Germany for many years, I have found them to be highly professional and remarkably friendly.

[Creamworks]

German police is the most chill yet also professional police I've ever personally come in contact with. When there's policemen around I actually feel safe rather than worried.

[LudwigRohf]

As a German: being stopped by foreign police is terrifying. Especially in the US.

[lethfuil]

In my 40 years in Germany I was never asked to piss in/on, well anything.
Once I was stoped for a broken light. They helped me change the bulp. 😅

[marsara]

I personally never met an unfriendly policeman or -woman here in Germany. If you are polite and friendly, they are too.

[ichmeiner]

ago, I was the designated driver after a festival. My friends were still pretty trashed and driving out of the camp ground, we were pulled over, like everyone else. My friends, bless their stupid hearts, began chanting "was ist grün und innen hohl! - Schnittlauch!" ("what's green and hollow on the inside! - chives!", translated word for word; police wore green back in the days). The cops had a hearty laugh about it and pointed us to the area where cars were searched top to bottom, with a huge grin.
Another time, I was driving to visit a friend a couple of hours away for the first time and got lost (mobile phones were a thing, but far from Google maps and such). I just pulled up to a police station, went in and asked for the way. Got a coffee, some cookies (it was a couple of weeks before Christmas), a charger for my phone and a very detailed description for the rest of my route. They offered their landline to call my friend. I even got a nice map (you know those folded paper maps) with a "you are here" and they marked the way for me with a sharpie.
Can't complain about them in the slightest.

[shinobunya]

German police officers are also not allowed to tell lies to get informations out of you. In US they can.

[CrazyManuel]

My tips for handling Police in Germany: Stay Calm, Stay as nice and polite as Possible, and start with a nice "Hello, Officer" or "good day, Officer". This greeting alone will calm them down if they had a rude "customer" before you. Try to talk as "educated" as Possible, no slang or anything. If you show them respect they will have a nice chat with you and you can go your way.

Also, always remember, Police officers have to deal with the worst People in our society and their actions. They are the ones who see horrible things on a daily basis. Also it's quiet possible they just saw a kid being scratched off the road cause it's parents didn't belive in Seatbelts. Always imagine they have their worst day ever and try to make it a bit better by showing there are still nice people in this world.

[SchlabberLachs]

Hello, a German policeman here. If you're an American and get pulled over by the police, you already have an advantage. Most police officers know good English (part of our training) and would talk to you about your home country. Most police officers are friendly in Germany. Americans are friends of Germans, after all. We may all look serious and cold, but we are not. As long as you don't insult or disrespect us, you will be treated well.
:)

Incidentally, random checks in places where there is a lot of crime are also subject to special rules. The person who is to be checked must also match the external appearance that is being looked for. Train stations are often identified as such a place. But the nice granny with her walking frame is less likely to be checked there and it would be difficult to justify this if she complained.

[tone]

I was a police officer in Berlin - Germany for forty years. I liked and like that no one has to be afraid of death if the police stop them or otherwise check them.
The job of the police is not to spread fear. Act appropriately for the situation and the reason. But you need a good selection and good training.
We definitely have them. The exceptions who believe that police means power and domination have no place in our profession.

[onnasenshi]

One reason could also be that the training period for a police officer in Germany lasts 2.5 years, compared to 15-16 weeks in the USA. The German police are also trained to de-escalate.
If someone refuses to follow instructions during a check, they first try to defuse the situation by talking to them, which is hardly possible in the USA, as there is a much greater chance that the other person will pull out a weapon.

[frankmunster]

I can only say, whenever i was stopped by the German police, they were absolutely friendly. If you're friendly, they are friendly too.
And if you happen to have done something wrong, a small issue, and you tell them "Yes, you are right. I shouldn't have done that, I'll be more careful next time", they might just give you a "Warning", where nothing happens (this time).
They are usually good people just doing their job.

[Caeleste-vy]

As someone who is traveling a lot, and participates in a lot of demonstrations here in Germany, aka. someone who gets in touch with the police a lot, I can vouch for the exceptional quality of German police work and the legal system. Of course, there are some issues with the German police force, especially allegations of right wing officers misusing their power or harrassing suspects, which should be taken seriously. But many people who trashtalk german police, especially in social media comment sections, have no idea what their rights are and pretend that any backlash from police is "authoritarian" or "unfair". If you go into a situation with police with that mentality, you will get in trouble and unfriendly conversations.

[ChristinaMotzer]

Eine Freundin meines Sohnes ist polizistin, in der Ausbildung wurde ihnen beigebracht, dass die wichtigste Waffe due Sprache ist

[jameschen]

The British guy is way too nervous about the police. If you behave in a normal friendly manner, 99.9% of police will treat you with respect. They are people like everyone else. I never had a problem with any policeman in over 60 years in Germany.

[eyk]

Normaly the Allgemeine Verkehrskontrolle is just relaxed. I never had a grumpy or aggressiv Cop. Sometimes you get into a chat with them and I had once a control in wich the cop hummed und made funny jokes, so it's nothing to be afraid of. My first control was the weidest, the cop was a cop in training and was more nervous than me, his trainer stood behind him and was noticing every move he made. poor one.

[DanDownunda]

Random stopping happens here in Australia and I'm fine with that, especially for random alcohol/drug testing. I don't want to be driving around with drunk or high drivers on the road or with someone driving on bald tyres in the rain.

[benaldewein]

10:40 Nah, police can't just decide what suspicious places are, the places get defined by the state / city and has to be publicly announced in advance.

[astranger]

A German police officer is 99.999% sure he is NOT dealing with an armed whatever. They deal with armed people in situations that are clearly criminal, like a bank robbery gone wrong. In those situations a regular police officer will secure the bystanders and call in a swat team.

It just means that a regular police officer does not need to operate in fear for his own safety.

All because in Germany not everybody and his uncle goes armed like a stormtrooper.

[kolo]

In Germany you always can aak an officer for help. They also trained in deescalation.