Policeman Clemens Ertl, who comes from Grafing, was overwhelmed by a special task force at his parents’ house in the course of the cocaine scandal at the Munich police, arrested and suspended. Wrongly so, as it turned out later. In the months after the raid, Ertl became an author: “Blaustich – Stories from everyday police life” is the title of his book, which was published last year by the Austrian publisher Herramhof. He now reads from it in Markt Schwaben and Grafing.
“Blaustich” consists of 31 short stories, all fictional plots, as Ertl emphasizes. But partly based on memories of ten years of patrol service. The publisher writes: “In his novel, policeman Clemens Ertl tells stories from everyday life in the Munich police force. Exciting, entertaining, disturbing and sometimes disturbing – but certainly never boring.”
There was no trial against Ertl. The public prosecutor’s office dropped the investigation into cocaine possession, and the police lifted the suspension. Despite this, Ertl was not allowed to go back to his old office, which he would have wanted. Instead, he was transferred to the traffic police, a division that is considered a siding within the police force. Ertl did not have to start the service yet. He has been receiving medical treatment since the raid and has been declared unfit for work until further notice. Stress symptoms, panic attacks, sleep disorders. If he hears several people in front of the door, he immediately gets a racing heart. “Even if it’s just the craftsmen.”
The reading in Markt Schwaben begins on Friday, February 24th, at 7.30 p.m. in the community library at Schlossplatz 1. Admission is free, but a short prior registration is required at [email protected] or (08121) 418190. The reading in Grafing begins on Friday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the community library at Grenzstraße 5. Admission is free, registration is not required.