The 25-year-old police officer Philipp Werner has joined the team of LGBTQ+-liaison officers at the Southeast Hesse Police Headquarters and will support Police Chief Commissioner Sarah Fuhrländer, who has led this role for several years. Werner has been a member of the Hessian police since 2019. He currently serves as a patrol officer at the Maintal Police Station and is slated to transition to shift duty with the Hanau police district starting in February.
Fuhrländer and Werner inform and advise both staff and victims in their roles, accompany investigations related to sexual orientation or gender identity, stand as trusted contacts for non-heterosexual colleagues, promote understanding and openness within the police, and contribute through active networking to lowering barriers between law enforcement and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people have repeatedly been victims of crimes. Anti-LGBTQ violence takes many forms. Those affected often experience these acts as targeted assaults on their identity, which can have significant effects on their sense of safety and their personal development. Not all victims are willing to come to the police or to speak publicly about what happened. Fearing rejection or retaliation, many hide their identity, resulting in many crimes going unreported and perpetrators feeling secure in a misleading sense of safety,” says the 25-year-old police officer. “For me, it is important to send a clear message of openness, acceptance, and support both internally and externally. We want to make a meaningful contribution to lowering barriers. Victims should know they will be taken seriously by the police and can rely on confidential counseling, especially through us as liaison officers,” emphasizes Werner, who approaches his new role with great commitment.
To ensure a trustworthy point of contact, the two are reachable via the department’s email address. In addition, Police Chief Commissioner Sarah Fuhrländer can be reached at the phone number (069) 8098-1146.
