Euskirchen's police contact: Roger Kath goes, Heike Schüler follows!

Euskirchen's police contact: Roger Kath goes, Heike Schüler follows!

On March 6, 2025, police chief Roger Kath retired after more than 40 years in the service of the police. Kath, who spent a large part of his career in Euskirchen, worked as a contact officer for religious communities for more than five years. This position, which has been established in North Rhine-Westphalia since the end of 2004, pursues the goal of recognizing and counteracting radicalization. Heike Schüler becomes his successor and assumes responsibility as a contact officer for all communities of faith.

Kath became known for his personal commitment and commitment in the city. His greatest case was the killing spree at the district court in Euskirchen in 1994, in which he was present as a witness. He was on site among the first police officers and experienced the events up close. In recent years, his work has focused primarily on working with Muslim institutions. The contact officers are not only an intermediary, they should also create transparency for police action.

The new contact person

Heike Schüler will face the challenge of counteracting stigmatization and growing Islamophobia. Under your supervision, the task of the contact officers is passed more broadly. Student becomes the contact person for all beliefs, which is an expansion of the previous focus. This step aims to strengthen the trust between the police and the various religious communities.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, contact officers for Muslim institutions (KMI) are important actors in prevention work. These officials not only act as a contact for intercultural affairs, but also offer measures to prevent youth violence and extremism. Mario Kasprusch, for example, since 2021 kmi in Bonn, illustrates the role that these officials play in cooperation with mosques and clubs.

prevention in the municipality

The legal foundations for the KMI were introduced in 2005, with the aim of building trust between the police and Muslim institutions. When working, it is important for KMI to convey cultural information within the police in order to promote respect for Islam. A personal exchange with imams and board members of mosque associations is essential to establish sustainable relationships.

However, the police offer is reserved by many Muslim institutions, which may have been influenced by the Corona pandemic. The need for prevention offers is assessed as high, especially with regard to topics such as youth violence and drugs. The KMI are in exchange with advice centers to continuously expand and adapt their programs for extremism prevention.

With the retirement of Roger Kath and the takeover by Heike Schüler, a new section for the contact officers begins. The challenges caused by social changes require sensitive and competent use of the police. The future cooperation with all faith communities will be crucial to create an integrative and safe environment.

How developments in the field of prevention and intercultural communication will continue to be seen. However, the need for trust and respect in society remains due to the upcoming changes that affect both the police and the communities.

Further information on the activities of the police and the contact officers are on the official website of the University of Police NRW