VILSECK, Germany — A German police officer has been stationed for the first time at the Rose Barracks Provost Marshal’s Office in Vilseck.

In response to the growing military community in the U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwöhr area, Army and local Polizei officials decided to place the officer on base to act as a liaison between the two organizations.

After a short ceremony officially welcoming him to his new office on Wednesday, Polizeihauptmeister Gerhard Männer talked about his new position.

“[My] headquarters said they needed a person, and I said I would go,” said Männer, 31. “I wanted to do a new job; I wanted to do an interesting job.”

Männer added that because he’s a Vilseck resident, the location also appealed to him.

USAG Grafenwöhr commander Col. Brian T. Boyle and German police officials said the increase in U.S. personnel in recent months was the main catalyst for adding Männer to the staff.

Last year’s addition of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment to Vilseck, coupled with space issues in the local MP stations, made Rose Barracks the best fit for Männer, said Maj. Robert Ray, director of emergency services for the garrison.

“This is not a reaction to some action that occurred before,” Ray said. “We have a very positive relationship (with the Polizei) right now. [Männer] will be able to facilitate the communication process and facilitate the paperwork process.

“Crime affects everybody. To have an officer in our station to help facilitate information flow between agencies and to provide quality service to the community … this is a positive thing for everyone involved.”

Although he was officially welcomed Wednesday, Männer has been working on Rose Barracks for more than a month. So far he has spent much of his time dealing with unpaid speeding tickets.

“There’s ongoing change in the community, but bottom line: We’re getting bigger,” Boyle said during the ceremony. “Soldiers called on to deploy are more comfortable when they know the police are here to keep their families safe.”

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