German police spending time in Chippewa Valley for exchange program

Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Samantha West | Leader-Telegram

Despite thousands of miles and an ocean separating their homes, highly contrasting criminal justice systems and policing techniques, law enforcement from the Chippewa Valley and Germany are forging friendships thanks to a three-week exchange program.

Five officers from across Germany arrived Sunday as part of an exchange through the International Police Association's Star program. The goal of the program, which was established in 1995, is to provide learning opportunities for officers from both nations about different policing techniques as well as to forge lasting friendships between the officers, according to the association website.

"I think this is an awesome opportunity for all the agencies involved to learn from one another," said Altoona police Chief Jesse James, noting some differences between the two countries include different rankings and overall structure of the police force. "It's just a totally different world, and I think this is an awesome learning experience just to see different police officers in the world and how they do their job."

While visiting, the officers will get a look at the life of an officer, on and off duty, as they spend their days training with local law enforcement agencies and their nights with host families.

After spending the last year fundraising and planning and now seeing the exchange come to fruition, Altoona police Officer Edward Bell said seeing the officers finally arrive is extremely rewarding. Bell was born in Germany and spent the first 20 years of his life there. He moved to the Chippewa Valley about six years ago.

Bell said he hopes the program is recurring, whether that means Altoona officers traveling to Germany for an exchange or hosting more next year.

The visiting officers and their families spent Sunday being welcomed to Wisconsin with a party at River Prairie Event Center in Altoona. On Monday, they spent their first day officially on the job touring the Eau Claire County law enforcement center in Eau Claire. 

Bell said the intent behind touring the government facilities was to give the German officers a better idea of how the criminal justice process works as a whole - from an officer's first encounter to court proceedings.

So far, the experience has taught Bell that many of the issues officers across the globe face - such as burglary or assault - are the same, but the major differences lie in how they're handled. 

Bell noted some more differences, such as the fact that police officers in Germany are not allowed to carry stun guns while patrolling and squad cars there are not equipped with computers. 

Another crucial part of the experience, Bell said, is touring the area and getting to know host families. 

"That's a big part of it - not just how officers act on the job but what creates that, the whole framework," he said. "They're loving it so far; they're very excited and there's a lot of interest."

Though the differences in policing are clear, Michaela Schmelzer said, she actually notices many similarities - largely in landscape - between the Chippewa Valley and the community she serves, a town of about 10,000 near Frankfurt. 

Schmelzer said she most looks forward to the friendships she's sure she'll make with fellow officers and her host family, already impressed by the kindness she's been shown.

"I'm very happy that all the people are so kind," she said. "They are so friendly."

Contact: 715-833-9203, samantha.west@ecpc.com, @SamanthaWest196 on Twitter 

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