The meeting was attended by representatives of the Faculty of Philology, University of Lodz, and an official delegation from Germany. The University of Lodz was represented by Prof. Krystyna Radziszewska and Prof. Rafał Zarębski, Dean of the Faculty of Philology. The foreign delegation consisted of four representatives of the German police, as well as representatives of the Justus Liebig University Giessen: Prof. Sascha Feuchert (Head of the Research Unit for Holocaust Literature and Managing Director of the Institute of Germanic Studies) and Aleksandra Bąk‑Zawalski.
The Wednesday meeting marked another stage in the academic cooperation between institutions in Giessen and Łódź, as well as between representatives of local communities. It should be noted that for some time now, 20 students from JLU Giessen and 16 students of German Studies in Łódź have been attending the seminar entitled „Cud, że ręka jeszcze pisze... Teksty z łódzkiego getta” [“It is a miracle that the hand still writes... Texts from the Łódź Ghetto”], jointly conducted by Prof. Radziszewska and Prof. Feuchert.
A wide-ranging discussion
The structure and organisation of the Polish police, as well as the conditions for joining the service, including the required education, training system and possible career paths for officers were the main topics of the discussion. The delegation aimed to learn about the current challenges faced by law enforcement officers in Poland, with particular emphasis on the specificity of Łódź.
An important part of the discussion concerned specific criminal phenomena, effective preventive measures implemented in recent years and models of cooperation between the criminal investigation units and patrol‑prevention units. The guests were also very interested in how recent political developments and global crises affect the day-to-day work of uniformed services and whether any changes in public attitudes towards the police can be observed. The discussions were complemented by issues related to the significance of Łódź’s unique history for the work of local officers, as well as the organisation of image‑building activities, including the operation of the press office and communication with the media.
Distinguished guests from Germany
The meeting was attended by highly qualified officers from Hesse, each of whom contributed valuable professional experience to the discussion. A Chief Superintendent who has served as the police headquarters spokesperson for over two years, responsible for media relations, communication during major operations and crisis management activities was among them. Thanks to many years of work in an investigative unit, he showed a particular interest in initial actions taken at the scenes of the most serious crimes. He was accompanied by a Senior Chief Superintendent who manages a unit dealing with serious and organised crime, including homicide, series of robberies, arson cases and most sexual offences not related to partner relationships. Another participant was a Senior Chief Superintendent who leads a unit responsible for juvenile crime and repeat offenders, including cases involving robbery, extortion, drugs, peer violence and youth gang activity. The delegation also included an officer from the patrol and intervention unit, involved in daily interventions and the security of mass events, as well as engaged in an innovative democratic education project implemented by the Police Presidium in the Central Hesse region.
A valuable exchange of experience
The May meeting at the Provincial Police Headquarters in Łódź provided an excellent opportunity for Polish and German police officers to establish closer contacts and exchange experience – all with strong support from the academic community. Such discussions are not only an opportunity for uniformed service personnel, but also an investment in more effective efforts to ensure the safety of residents in the future. As the Faculty of Philology at the University of Lodz, we are pleased to have contributed to this initiative and to have been a part of such an important undertaking.
Photo: Provincial Police Headquarters in Łódź
