Patrons of Democracy to Strengthen Value Orientation in Police - Hesse Police Train Officers as Democracy Mentors to Uphold Core Values
A new pilot scheme at the Polizei-Hauptquartier Zentralhessen is training officers to champion democratic values in their daily work. The initiative, called Democracy Mentors – Polizei Schutz der Demokratie, aims to strengthen tolerance, respect, and open dialogue within the force. Five officers have already completed the programme, with more expected to join soon.
The project was developed in partnership with institutions like the Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte in Gießen, the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, and local groups such as the Amt für Integration und Migration. Officers take part in intensive training on democratic self-awareness, historical education, and strategies to counter populist or anti-democratic views. These Democracy Mentors will then act as multipliers, spreading these principles across the police headquarters.
The concept itself was first trialled in Lower Saxony, where the state’s Police Academy worked with the organisation Against Forgetting. For Democracy. While not a direct response to recent controversies within the Frankfurt police, the initiative seeks to prevent similar issues by fostering a values-based culture. The mentors will also engage directly with community groups to improve public understanding of police work. Hesse’s Interior Minister Roman Poseck has backed the scheme, emphasising that democracy must be actively protected and practised every day. The training covers not only legal and ethical standards but also practical skills for handling difficult conversations in the line of duty.
The first five trained mentors are now ready to implement the programme’s goals. Their role will include promoting democratic attitudes, addressing historical responsibility, and improving communication within the force. The initiative marks a proactive step in embedding core values into everyday policing across Central Hesse.
