Germany's oldest police chaplain: Farewell after 27 years of service

Germany's oldest police chaplain: Farewell after 27 years of service

In the world of emergency pastoral care, a great one is saying goodbye: Michael Kleemann, Germany's longest-serving police chaplain, is retiring after 27 years. With his work, the Protestant pastor and superintendent of the Stendal church district has had a profound impact not only on the police, but also on numerous citizens in crisis situations. At the end of this month he will step down from office for reasons of age. Kleemann has over 30 years of experience as an emergency pastor and has been involved in countless missions, including the tragic attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market in 2024, which shocked the country. His motivation to join the fire service was rooted in a car accident in which four young people lost their lives. An experience that had a significant impact on him and led him to develop an aftercare module for emergency services and those involved in an accident.

Kleemann is not only a sensitive companion in difficult times, but also a pioneer in emergency pastoral care in Saxony-Anhalt. He has recognized how important professional support is when delivering news of death and also offers support for police officers with psychological stress, such as the so-called “post-shooting trauma”. A care decree he helped design ensures that police officers are automatically cared for after stressful operations. “This is important because the mental health of the emergency services must be the top priority,” he emphasizes. On August 22nd, Otto-Fabian Voigtländer will be introduced as Kleemann's successor, while Werner Meyknecht will take over police pastoral care for the Halle police station.

The role of emergency pastoral care in times of crisis

But what is emergency pastoral care actually? A look at the tasks and areas of application shows the importance of this service. Emergency pastors are deployed during events such as rampages, serious traffic accidents or disasters to support relatives and eyewitnesses. Two people were recently killed in the shooting spree in Mannheim, which once again shows how urgently this support is needed. Loud Deutschlandfunk culture The mobilization of emergency pastors is one of the first measures in such incidents. In 2022, over 30,000 missions were required in Germany, which underlines the high demand for these services.

The systematic organization of emergency pastoral care has already celebrated its 30th anniversary and was established in Germany in 1991 - a real milestone. Over 8,000 employees nationwide are available around the clock to provide psychosocial support. And best of all: regardless of their religious beliefs, they support people without pursuing any missionary concerns. The composition of the teams could also change in the future as religious diversity increases in Germany. Muslims and humanist emergency pastors are already working to break down cultural and language barriers and improve support for those affected.

Psychosocial emergency care: A central approach

Psychosocial emergency care (PSNV) plays a central role in this. The philosophy of this care is based on activating the personal and social resources of those affected. Early psychosocial support is intended to prevent people from suffering from the consequences of traumatic experiences. Loud Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief A consensus process was launched to ensure the quality of the PSNV. A total of 31 quality standards and guidelines were adopted to optimize support and provide those affected with the best possible support.

At a time when more and more people are affected by such stressful events, the work of people like Michael Kleemann and the numerous emergency pastoral care teams becomes indispensable. Clear structures and lots of empathy – these are the ingredients that make this service so special. Their commitment and presence in crisis situations help ensure that people receive the support they need and are not alone with their pain.