“Now all the stories and experiences that were stowed away in a drawer somewhere in the head are all coming up again,” says Rudolf Hochhard when telling about the old days. And that’s not exactly a small amount of what he and his former colleague Erich Spitzl have experienced. The two came to Poing in 1971 with the establishment of the new police station. About 30 officers were stationed with them at the time. There were five of them on their shift. All five at the beginning of their police careers. “We were thrown into the deep end,” said Hochhard. From today’s point of view, however, that is what particularly welded together. At that time, the Poing Police Station was responsible for around 30,000 citizens – today it is over 70,000.
“That could have turned out very differently”
Rudolf Hochhard, who took over the management of PI Poing in 2002, is particularly fond of some of the cases from back then. For example, an operation that happened in connection with several meat thefts at the Grub State Estate. On that day, the thieves were caught in the act. When his colleague was about to open the iron door at the entrance, one of the perpetrators suddenly shot the two officers outside with a revolver. Lucky you – the door wasn’t fully open yet, so the bullet ricocheted off there. “It could have turned out very differently,” says Hochhard.
The old police building has meanwhile been extended.
(Photo: Police Poing / oh)
Erich Spitzl experienced another curious case with his service group leader Anton Kapsner when the two were called to a family quarrel. When we arrived at the house, a bullet suddenly flew through the door – just past the officers. “The Kapsner takes his weapon out of the holster and shoots back. Through the door.” And finally hits the perpetrator by the hand in which he was holding his pistol. A direct hit – almost blind. Cases that Hochhard and Spitzl have not forgotten to this day. “It was really getting down to business for us,” both stated.
Serious traffic accidents were also regularly on the agenda at the time. Especially on the B 12 – also known as the “death route” – there were regular crashes. Both through the construction of the A 94 and due to the significantly improved road safety, the number of accidents has continued to decline to this day. “There is also significantly less use of firearms,” says today’s Poingen police chief, Helmut Hintereder.
Police work through the ages: Anton Kapsner 50 years ago.
(Photo: Police Poing / oh)
Of course, a lot has also changed in terms of equipment. “Back then we didn’t have any computers or EDP systems. Instead, we had a long tome as a manhunt book,” recalls Hochhard.
Nevertheless, Spitzl, Hochhard and Hintereder definitely find parallels. The average age at the police station in Poing – is still rather low today. Much of the operational procedures have also remained the same. But above all, it is the cohesion that has always made the Poing police stand out.
Rudolf Hochhard was part of the Poing police station from the start.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
More than 60 police officers are currently ensuring the safety of citizens in the northern district of Ebersberg. The personnel situation has improved significantly in recent years. And on the occasion of the 50th birthday, they definitely had a little more plans this year.
“Actually, a big concert was planned for the anniversary, as was the case with the 30-year-old,” reveals police chief Hintereder. Corona ultimately thwarted the whole thing. At least an exchange between former civil servants and those active today was then possible. True to the motto: For the next 50 years.