Harald Mertens retires after 45 years in North Rhine-Westphalia police

From patrol officer to district leader, Mertens shaped policing in Cologne and beyond. His successor steps in as a new era begins.

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2025 December 13 . 7:51 PM

1 min read

In front of the picture, we see a white car on which "Police" is written. Behind that, there are... — In front of the picture, we see a white car on which "Police" is written. Behind that, there are many cars moving on the road. On either side of the road, we see grass and trees. This picture is clicked outside the city.

Harald Mertens retires after 45 years in North Rhine-Westphalia police

Harald Mertens has retired after 45 years in the North Rhine-Westphalia police force. His career began in 1979 as a patrol officer in Cologne-Ehrenfeld and ended with his leadership role in Euskirchen. A succession plan is already in place, with Gabriele Mälchers set to take over his responsibilities.

Mertens started his policing journey in Cologne-Ehrenfeld before rising through the ranks. By 2018, he had become Head of Police Operations at Euskirchen District Police Authority. His final position before retirement was as Head of Internal Administration at the Bezirksregierung Köln’s Euskirchen office.

Mertens leaves behind a legacy of nearly five decades in law enforcement. His successor, Mälchers, will now lead police operations in Euskirchen. The transition follows a structured handover, ensuring continuity in the district’s policing efforts.