The exhibition "History - Violence - Conscience" tells of the crimes committed by the police during the Second World War and attempts to come to terms with them in the post-war period. Among other things, it addresses the enormous dimension of the uniformed police's involvement in the Second World War and the genocides against Jews and Sinti and Roma. The Recklinghausen police headquarters was also involved in the atrocities with a police battalion.
This look into the past is intended to sensitize the "newly qualified" police officers and government employees once again for their first steps into everyday police work in the present. The aim is to encourage them to regularly reflect on the values of our constitution, also in comparison with their own personal values.
The visit to the exhibition will also be followed by a discussion round in which Ms Zurhausen will talk to the young new recruits to the authority about their role under the rule of law and the exercise of the state's monopoly on the use of force.
"We are experiencing increasing anti-Semitism and threatening right-wing extremist developments. But we, as a society, and above all as a police force, must not tolerate anti-Semitic and right-wing extremist incidents," emphasized Police Commissioner Friederike Zurhausen, adding: "That is why officers should be encouraged to perform their duties exclusively for the benefit of society. During the visits, I experienced young colleagues who dealt with the topic intensively and constructively and engaged in very lively discussions. This makes me confident that young people will make their way here who, like most in the police force, have internalized the need for an attitude that our Basic Law prescribes: respect for democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the dignity of each individual."
Further details on the "History - Violence - Conscience" exhibition can be found on the website https://www.stadt-muenster.de/villa-ten-hompel/startseite.html.