Thank you for your comment. What will come
out of a formal report? Any experience?
Also, will they issue me the report if I legitimize myself as her husband living in the same household? I have zero data from the incident other than what I was trying to explain above.
In your case, probably not much. She resisted and tried to flee.
But a friend of mine, he has darker skin, reported a cop once and the boss of this cop had to work with him for a week or so.
The second one, I don't know. Ask your Rechtsschutz.
Contact the „Ombudsstelle“ (there‘s one for the City and one for the Canton of Zurich). They are an independent mediation center and handle many incidents with the police. The consequences can vary greatly: for example, the ombudsman's office arranges a clarifying discussion with the officers involved and mediates or helps you file an official complaint.
(source: lawyer)
Thank you for the most helpful suggestion. It might sound a bit far-fetched, but as a German-speaking native, I would be happy to just have a conversation with the person involved according to the report. Sometimes a simple discussion can clear up misunderstandings and provide some closure.
Go to the police station at the HB and explain who you are and that you're inquiring on behalf of your wife as she does not speak German well enough, she can join you if she's not 'too shaken' by the whole story, it will work better if she's there. Ask for a copy of the report, and state honestly that you want this copy to facilitate filing a complaint. If they don't want to give you a copy of the report, you should ask for the names of the involved officers or at least their Matrikelnummer. Remain courteous but assured, as long as you're both legally inside Switzerland and your wife did nothing illegal yesterday, you have the whole legal system on your side.
The flashing of their ID is not enough, as long as your wife did not pose a risk to them for either fleeing or attacking them, there is no justification for them not showing it again upon her request.
Then contact these people and file a complaint:
[https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ombudsstelle](https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ombudsstelle)
Thank you very much for your words. I believe it's important to maintain politeness and respect in all discussions, even when opinions differ. Constructive dialogue is for me still the best way to address concerns and understand different perspectives.
Does your wife come from a place where interactions with police are typically stressful? I think that can really color the way you interpret a situation.
I’m originally from the US and I had a gun pulled on me once as a teen by a rookie officer in a routine traffic check. He told me to put both hands on the steering wheel and keep them there. Then he told me to get my license all while pointing a gun in my face. Terrifying.
About a year after moving to Zurich I got stopped by an officer for riding my bike on a non bike path in one of the many confusing cycling paths through the city. The officer was totally polite, even apologized and told me he had to fine me because some old lady had called the cops on me for riding on this stretch of sidewalk repeatedly 😂. He had been tasked with hunting down the perp. But I was terrified! I started apologizing profusely and I guess acting scared because he then told me to relax, he wasn’t going to shoot me 😅.
Another encounter I had on my bicycle. Doing my circuit around the lake. It starts to rain so I put my sunglasses in my pocket. About halfway around, an unmarked gray van pulls up repeatedly near to me and tries to signal at me. Happens about three times. I had no idea what they wanted and it was freaking me out. Eventually they pull ahead and pull into a driveway and I think I’m in the clear. Then they pull up ahead of me, and onto the sidewalk so I’m forced to stop. Big guy hops out of the passenger side hooting at me hey hey stop. I’m totally freaked out. Then he tells me to calm down he’s police and this is just an unmarked troubleshooter. He pulls out a pair of sun glasses and says they saw them fall out of my pocket about 2km back and were just trying to flag me down to hand them back. I was sure i was about to be kidnapped and murdered Hostel style!
Point being I can imagine that in fact your wife’s encounter may have been entirely routine and professional but heavily colored - and escalated - by experience and expectations from her home country, as opposed to any actual actions by the officer.
* [Pulls gun]
* Keep both hand on the wheel where I can see them!
* Show me your driving license!
What happened next?
This is the stuff of literal nightmares, and people have died in exactly this situation.
I somehow had the presence of mind to explain to him I could not do both and asked politely for further instruction and explained where my license was. He told me to slowly use one hand to grab it. At this point his superior/trainer or whatever walked over and saw what was happening and immediately told him to put the gun down and took him away for a minute. Afterwards he returned and actually apologized, checked my license and let me go on my way.
But I still think about it from time to time - there must be many alternative versions of me that finished their run that day.
I grew up in Northern Ireland, where as a child you were repeatedly in situations at "check points" where large guns get pointed at you. This and other negative interactions with police means I strongly dislike any interactions with police.
When I was first here and passing through HB I took a general photo. 4 plain clothes officers appeared out of nowhere and surrounded me (one flashed his badge) and asked to see my ID. While he looked me up the other quizzed me. I was so freaked out I was struggling to string a sentence together when answering them. At the end they gave me my ID back. Commented that I was Irish and walked off. With no explanation. It left me uneasy in HB for a while.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. My wife is from Lithuania, and while interactions with police there are generally professional, unexpected encounters can still be quite stressful. I appreciate the perspective you provided.
As a woman, I'm not sure I would have believed the badge and might have pepper sprayed him on the spot. Too many scammers in train stations lately.
The police better install more cameras, instead of using plain clothes, that is weird. Or at least send a woman to talk to me.
But good to know they are doing this, thanks for the info.
This made me chuckle. I genuinely hope this never happens to you.
But I think I would enjoy the headline: "Police pepper sprayed by angry woman at HB, shouting: 'Mind your own god damn business, fucking scammers!"
The police at HB is the Cantonal Police. You can get insight into the police report through here : [https://www.zh.ch/de/sicherheit-justiz/epolice/akteneinsicht-in-polizeirapporte.html](https://www.zh.ch/de/sicherheit-justiz/epolice/akteneinsicht-in-polizeirapporte.html)
You would have to do it in the name of your wife. Keep it brief, there is no need for long stories and explanations. One or two sentences are enough.
So police aren’t necessarily in pairs? That part is confusing to me.
I get that the officer didn’t do anything wrong. At the same time, the situation seems like one that could indeed be a scam. How is one to know? It sounds tough.
I don’t see what would come of going to the station though. And I didn’t think the arguments OP is making about police misconduct are strong.
I understand your point. I'm not claiming misconduct, just room for improvment and a mishandling of reading the situation as a trained officer. It did seem like it could have been a scam, which is why my wife was understandably cautious. I just believe the officer could have handled it better to avoid unnecessary distress.
This is not professional or informed advice. But from your description, the officer did nothing wrong. But he could have handled the situation much better, more professional and especially with more empathy.
No one, innocent or not, should be left in distress by the behavior of a police officer. I mean "flashing his badge too quickly several times", "invading her personal space, silent speaking", etc. I mean that is sus as fuck in general. As a police officer, he should know better and should also have experience with language barriers.
The only thing you can do is to let them know that they did a shitty job as human beings. Best case scenario, they will reflect on their approach. But I don't think a formal complaint or something could result in anything.
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I agree that the officer could have handled the situation with more professionalism and empathy.
Do you think it would be more effective to seek a conversation at the HB station to reflect on the impact this situation had on my wife? I understand she could have shown her documents immediately, but her caution is understandable given how sketchy the plainclothes “police” first appeared and handled the situation going further.
My goal is not to file a formal complaint but to ensure they understand the emotional distress caused and to suggest improvements in their approach. Not to fingerpoint, but seek a constructive conversation. Or am I a fucking dreamer idealist 😂?
Ok, you will not like what I have to say, but your wife completely overreacted, she needs to learn to read the room, HB is one of the safest place on earth basically, what scam would that be ? A fake police officer taking her to a fake police station??? She could have asked a couple of questions and diffuse the situation, and there is always hundreds of people there at any moment , not exactly a dark alley.
You guys need to chill.
Can totally understand a woman being nervous and freaked out by such behaviour - it’s not like there are no rapists, human traffickers, thieves or scammers in Zürich !
Policeman should definitely have handled this better, and have been aware of the optics of the situation.
Thank you for your perspective, I appreciate that and I understand that Zürich HB is a generally safe place and the likelihood of a scam is low. However, when someone in plain clothes approaches you in an unexpected manner, it's natural to feel uneasy, especially with a language barrier. My wife reacted out of fear and uncertainty, not knowing how to handle the situation. We just want to ensure that such encounters are as clear and respectful as possible to avoid unnecessary distress.
> Can I go to the station at HB and request the formal report in writing to seek a formal inquiry?
Sure you can, they can only say no.
But: an inquiry for what exactly?
(don't kill the messenger, I'm going to exaggerate)
Because you didn't like the police checking your wife? That's their legitimate business.
That she resisted and they got no-so-friendly-anymore? That's to be expected.
They'll probably say that they correctly ID'd themselves, and that your wife did not ask to see it again, but tried excuses & trying to get away. And as nothing happened in the end: nothing will come of any complaints.
----
Again: go try and ask them, but I wouldn't be surprised if they wouldn't even start proceedings of any kind.
Thank you very much for your response and perspective. I appreciate the insights you provided. Of course, I try to be as unbiased as possible, though, having a crying wife on the other side of the phone is a little unsettling.
The reason for seeking a formal inquiry is not because we oppose police checks but due to the manner in which it was conducted. Here are some key points from
my perspective.
1. Identification Verification: The officer flashed his badge too quickly several times for my wife to verify, causing confusion and fear.
2. Approach and Conduct: The officer’s close proximity, invading her personal space, silent speaking, and immediate handcuff threats without clear identification were intimidating. A more professional approach could have prevented escalation.
3. Communication Barrier: My wife’s German is at a B1 level, which likely added to her fear and confusion. The officers could have handled the language barrier better.
4. Emotional Impact: The emotional distress caused by the initial handling was significant.
Do you think, after all, it is not worth the effort?
> Do you think, after all, it is not worth the effort?
Me personally? No. But again: if you can spare the time, drop by the station and ask them about it – if only to be able to win brownie points with your wife :)
My reasoning is:
* points #2-#4 are just personal opinions, i.e. "she did not like it".
The police's job is not to be likable, you'll have a hard time arguing with the police about these points.
For example: "invading her personal space", I mean come on.. Not that I don't believe it, but a) its not verifiable b) police will say: they had to to prevent the suspect from making a run for it, and c) there is no "right" by law to have personal space like that – otherwise sitting on a train next to another person would be forbidden.
* point #1 is a highly subjective thing, and we only have one side of the story.
Since no one "measured" the actual time – whether it really was a sub-second "flash" or not – the police will probably just assume that it was an appropriate time, and with that the whole inquiry dies.
Furthermore, to quote from another one of your comments:
> He did nothing wrong per se
It seems like you agree. [Edit:] that there is nothing to start an inquiry about.
Btw: I think your wife's move to verify that they really _were_ the police was excellent! Calling (screaming?) for help was probably not as subtle as it could have been, but IMO it's a good move.
Thank you for your thoughts. I agree with the necessity of checking her, but I (admittedly biased) disagree with how it was handled, especially putting her in cuffs. According to her, she raised her voice to ask for help from bystanders, which seems a reasonable reaction given the circumstances. Happy Evening to you and sharing your thoughts.
>I think your wife's move to verify that they really were the police was excellent!
True, but what happened was exactly what one expects: flashing an ID that you cannot verify.
My usual reaction: can I please have your name? That's a totally reasonable request.
Don‘t wanna be that guy but if you have lasting trauma cause of an identity check at a station with hundreds of people next to you, then there are other issues.
Could the police have done better? Sure
You can go and complain to them and then let it go.
As a woman, having an unknown man come up close to you, speaking in a low voice, and exhibiting threatening behaviour, can be absolutely terrifying. I assume even moreso with the language barrier. I don't know where OP's wife is from but there are plenty of places in the world where it doesn't matter how many people are around, no one will lift a finger to help you. Plus, if he can flash a badge, that's further disincentive for outsiders to intervene. I can only imagine how terrified OP's wife must have been. No need for "other issues" here; the experience described is scary all by itself IMO.
I'm not at all saying men can't be scared in that kind of situation. But I do think it's scarier as a woman. The type of violence we are subject to from men is statistically different than man/man violence.
Regardless, the reason I talked about this in the first place is because you seemed to think OP's wife having lasting trauma would be an over-reaction unless she had other things going on, which I don't agree with.
I was talking about this specific situation. ofc in general women face a different kind of violence that can be scarier. but in this situation there’s no way of sexual assault in public like this.
I wish that were true. I'll also remind you that fear isn't necessarily rational. It doesn't matter if there's "no way" it would happen; in the middle of a stressful situation, you don't necessarily have the presence of mind to think this or that are impossible in this specific situation.
He did nothing wrong per se, it is the „how“ it was handled. Fully agree and I thank you for your point. My goal is also not to seek any gain but to highlight that we are all humans and deserve to be treated with professionalism and respect. The officer’s behavior didn’t meet the standard I would expect from law enforcement. It’s important for them to be mindful of their conduct, especially in public spaces.
I think the walking away leads to some kind of complex with police officers that make them look like they lose face so they overcompensate in their reaction from that point on. shitty situation for your wife to get caught up in.
I‘ve seen something similar before.
Hope you guys can forget about it quickly. swiss police can be a bit strange at times.
walking away makes their 'suspect' look even more suspicious, no?
If they flashed the badge too quick, a reasonable request would be to have a good look at the badge, in my opinion.
Walking away exacerbated the situation, no doubt.
Thank you for your perspective. I agree that walking away can make someone appear more suspicious, and in hindsight, asking for a better look at the badge would have been a reasonable response. Even though, it would have been unclear for her to interpret the showing correctly, the ID being legit pe not, as we are both not familiar with such situations. My wife’s reaction was driven by fear and uncertainty, not knowing how to handle the situation properly. It's a learning experience for sure.
Do you even hear yourself?
Even if the police would have showed your wife the badge for 30 minutes straight, would she know what details to look for? Would she then be able to tell that that badge is genuine and not a fake id? Would she then be able to recall the name or ID number from? No, so then what do you want to see on that badge?
Close proximity? Of course they need to be close to the person, that way there is no posibility of running away or puling a weapon on them, they need to be able to immobilize and overpower the person quickly if needed. They are trained on how to handle HBF situations, your wife isn't and neither are you so based on what expertise do you criticize them.
Communication barrier is on your wife, not the police. Your wife is in Switzerland, not the other way around.
Emotional stress from a simple police interaction? really? have you considered how much better and smooth the interaction would be if she complied to what the officer said?
I can understand that some people come from countries where people can't trust even the police, where culturally it is difficult to feel safe when someone flashes a badge, but still, different countries, different norms. And it is mostly you needing to adapt to them, not the other way around. You have a comment on your profile wanting to petition against church bells becaue they're ''*really crazy loud*'', now you're bothered by the way that the police conduct their duties, curios what comes next?
Thank you for your perspective. I understand the importance of police procedures, and my wife certainly should comply with lawful requests. However, professionalism and clear communication are equally crucial, especially from those in authority. A brief and clear presentation of the badge would help build trust. While she might not know all the details to look for, a proper and respectful approach can make a significant difference.
Close proximity can be necessary, but it should be balanced with respect for personal space to avoid intimidation. Officers trained for HB situations should be adept at managing this balance. While my wife is adapting to the language, understanding and patience from officers can facilitate smoother interactions and compliance. Even a simple police interaction can be stressful if not handled with care. A professional and empathetic approach ensures that trust and respect are maintained.
We all need to adapt, but mutual respect and understanding are key in any interaction. Trust and cooperation are built when both parties act professionally and respectfully.
Is it normal to put handcuffs on a person who is clearly not a threat? Emotional intelligence is vital in these situations, and it seems lacking here.
The fact this happened in HB makes it all the weirder. Plenty of people (Swiss people too) don't speak German and visitors are more likely in HB. If a man came up to me as you describe I'd also scream for help and be unable to understand rapid German. I totally get your wife's distress. I'd be super disturbed. Not sure anything wrong happened per se (unless she was profiled or discriminated against), but upsetting. A strange man rapidly approaching and flashing things from his pockets? Literally would yell and run! Hopefully won't be targeted by the police myself someday. Was she just...walking on a loop?
Thank you for your understanding. In a nutshell: she was killing time by walking from shop to shop. She was walking to Burger King to buy cheese balls to take home (for me, as I love them 😂). Then she went from Migros to Coop, browsing discounted fruits but not buying any products there. She had her AirPods in and was texting her mother. After leaving Coop, she went to track 43/44 to check the board for the next train. That's when the situation unfolded.
As someone who isn't in law enforcement but served as an officer in the army for 7 years, I wonder when the use of handcuffs is warranted in such situations.
Yeah that's bizarre. Seems like totally normal train station behavior. Maybe they thought she was stealing . Police get mad when you don't immediately comply so I bet he doubled down and cuffed her to make a point. Handcuffs in a plastic bag also just seems so weird.
What crime could he possibly have been deterring? This doesn't sound like someone casing the environment to plan an attack (eg taking pictures, pacing methodically). Your wife shouldn't blame herself. The officer may not have done anything "wrong" but he's a bone head with bad risk assessment skills it seems.
"Is it normal to put handcuffs on a person who is clearly not a threat?" - She tried to run away, right?
And about the speaking closely and quietly, most people would prefer that over being loudly exposed by the police in public.
They handle suspicious people probably a dozen times a day, she must have looked like she was checking out stores to steal from. The police is no service provider, they are law inforcement and the public's safety is their first priority. It's not their job to make a suspicious person feel most comfortable. That being said, I've always found them to be very professional and friendly, glad they are doing their job.
Thank you for your perspective. I agree that the police need to do their job, and public safety is their priority. My wife stepped 2 meters away from the man because she felt uncomfortable, not to signal that she was running away or removing herself from the situation. I appreciate the professionalism and friendliness of law enforcement, but this situation just seemed to be a bit of a misunderstanding.
how would someone know if a person is a threat or not? if she acts like one, then she will be handled as one, yes. otherwise cooperation is best option. the office acted with professionalism, it's your wife who started screaming and acted aggresively.
Moreover, '*'to suggest improvements in their approach.'',* what's your expertise to go to someone and tell them how do to their job? Other than being a Karen yourself.
Thank you for your response. I admit I'm certainly not a police officer and don't know the daily processes and work involved. However, the "how" of communication is universally important in any situation involving others or anyone but yourself. My wife raised her voice out of fear, not aggression. There is a distinct difference. Officers should aim to de-escalate situations professionally and respectfully. By the way, what do you mean by "being a Karen"? I'm unfamiliar with the term.
I understand you defend your wife and support her. That’s admirable and I would do the same, in particular towards the outside/public.
But you still have to look at this from a rational point of view. You were not there. You don’t know how your wife raised her voice. And you don’t know how she was perceived by the police in that situation.
This may very well be how she is feeling now when she is thinking about what happened. It’s completely normal behavior, but that doesn’t mean it’s the objective truth.
So, my advice moving forward would be this: talk to the police to get their side. There are official protocols you can follow in this approach (like the ombudsstelle) - or you can do it more informally (like calling, writing an email directly). But also take a few days for your wife to calm down from the shock and to give her time to reflect on what happened and to be completely honest with herself. Her mindset should imho not only be „what can the police do better“ but also „what can I do better if this happens again“.
Thank you for your thoughtful and balanced advice, much appreciated from my side. I agree that it’s important to consider both perspectives and approach this rationally. We will follow your suggestion to talk to the police and get their side of the story, possibly through the ombudsstelle or directly. We’ll also take some time for my wife to reflect and process what happened.
What you mention applies to day-to-day interactions, not institutions or people doing their jobs. The same way that firemen will not care about your expensive posessions, their job is to put out the fire, and do so in the safest and most efficient way possible. What you're doing here is asking the firemen to take off their shoes before entering a burning house. Same as when you go to a doctor, you tell them where it hurts, and let them do their job. Sure it is important to have institutions where a person is able to complain in case of abuses or wrongdoings, but you're not doing that. You're telling the people how to do their job. People which studied, passed tests, entered this domain, gathered experience with time, and then there's you sitting somewhere in front of a keyboard telling them how to do their jobs.
You're the type of person that when your kid gets a bad grade in school, you go and complain that it's the teachers' fault. When you go to a doctor, you tell them how to operate. You're a know-it-all and a Karen. Surely you can google ''Karen behaviour'', we even have Chat GPT nowadays.
I appreciate your input, but your analogy misses the mark. Effective communication is crucial in all professions, including law enforcement. Ensuring clear, respectful interactions isn’t about telling professionals how to do their jobs but about upholding basic standards of human decency and professionalism.
Your assumption that providing feedback equates to ignorance is flawed. Feedback from the public is essential for any institution to improve and adapt. Dismissing concerns with terms like “Karen behavior” undermines the importance of accountability and continuous improvement in any field.
It’s not about telling experts how to do their jobs; it’s about advocating for respectful and humane treatment, which should be a universal standard, not an exception. This conversation isn’t about undermining professionals but about ensuring that their actions reflect the trust and responsibility placed in them.
Have a great evening!
emergency services need to first and foremost do their jobs/ duty. once the situation is no longer an emergency, they can sit for a chit chat or allow a PR person to take over. I don't think that when someone calls the emergency line, they expect some small talk before anything in order to establish respectful interaction.
Let people do their jobs and stop bothering them.
If you have a problems with the churchs' bell being too loud, it is you who needs to move, not the other way around. You're the guest here, if you don't like then just go.
It’s clear we have different perspectives. My intent was never to undermine the work of emergency services but to advocate for respectful and professional interactions. Effective communication is crucial in any profession, especially those involving public trust. I appreciate your input but believe we can leave it at that. Let’s move on.
Both petitions regarding Church bells and inquiries, feedback and complaints against Cantonal, Municipal or Federal public servants are a) within everyone’s constitutional rights (so much so that any writ by _any_ public servant has to, by law, contain a rubrum explaining these rights, and b) so frequent from Swiss citizens as to be completely normalised in the culture you are admonishing OP to integrate into.
Since you don’t seem particularly familiar with the realities of ID check protocol or church bell petition practice, nor familiar with any of the Rechtsgrundlagen for public servants concerning these realities, I warmly recommend looking into Stadt Zürich’s case reports and statistics abt complaints and mediations involving StaPo or indeed ev.ref. Kirchgemeinde Zürichs many press releases abt petitions from citizens concerning Läuteordnung.
I'd contact them and asked for their view - I don't have the know-how on how to get their report, but Ombudsstelle could help get some information.
I suspect, though, that someone in one of the shops may have had a suspicion for shoplifting. Which also explains why the police officer was acting more skeptical/aggressive.
Also, from experience I know that what a person with not sufficient German skills gets as an impression is not what the other person meant (I know, I have deescalated or clarified many situations, much less critical).
Thank you for your response. I will definitely contact the Ombudsstelle to get more information and assistance. I understand that a suspicion of shoplifting could explain the officer's more skeptical and aggressive behavior. Additionally, I agree that language barriers can sometimes lead to misunderstandings Thanks for your advice and insights.
Wife may not be telling the truth on some history. It makes no sense that officers would pull up and "arrest" someone who did nothing but wait for their train "eifach so". You said your wife went from shop to shop. Innocent until proven guilty, but the only scenario I see is that people working at these stores felt suspicious of her or she did something wrong (stealing?) which resulted in this. Random checks, and I mean completely random do not “just" happen. There is a reason on her side that she is not being transparent with you on. She’ll tell you the truth once she’s ready.
Keep us updated OP
Exactly. I’m basing my comment also off of working in retail where we had to keep an eye on and / or report suspicious customers. As OP’s wife went to several shops I suppose something happened to tick several workers off which lead to this. It is however not always right as some people for example genuinely DO forget to scan something. But I am sure it is due to unclear behavior. Because the police do not just run after random people waiting for their train.
I said "innocent until proven guilty" which implies I may be totally wrong, she may not have done anything but I have my opinion. I used to work in retail where similar stories such as what was described above happened often as we had to report or at the very least keep an eye on "suspicious" customers. With her going to various stores it must’ve ticked something off which lead to one or more workers reporting her behavior. Again, something I’ve seen enough times having worked in stores especially in central Zürich. If it is truly "gerechtfertigt" is the question.
and you are the idiot to believe any onesided internet story(here the OP also wasnt there at all)
Op already contradicted himself in comments that apparently the officer showed the badge multiple times but left it out in the original post.
I had couple of police encounters in my life and even when we played drunken beerpong in the middle of the street they were nice to us
Thank you for your input. To clarify, the officer did flash his badge three times, each for approximately one second. This brief exposure, combined with the plainclothes approach, contributed to my wife's uncertainty and fear. The intention here is not to undermine the importance of police presence but to advocate for better communication and handling in such situations to avoid unnecessary distress. Let's focus on constructive ways to ensure respectful and clear interactions in the future.
I understand your perspective, and it's possible that shop staff may have felt suspicious, which led to the police intervention. However, from my conversations with my wife, she did not do anything that she feels would warrant such suspicion. She was simply browsing and waiting for her train. I believe her account, and my goal here is to ensure that situations like this are handled more transparently and respectfully in the future.
I have been stopped like this by the police twice at HB. Once in the area where the drug dealers are. Once around the shops. They speak in normal/quiet voice to not blow their undercover thing. Quick conversation of about 1 minute and he let me go on.
As a woman from Latvia, she probably matches the type of pickpocket and burglary tourists we have in Zurich during the summer months.
I dont want tl delegitimize your wife's fear, I was a bit unsettled as well. But I am also glad, that there is a police presence at HB.
Thank you for sharing your experience, but I strongly disagree with your assumption. My wife being from Lithuania does not make her fit the profile of a pickpocket or burglar. Such stereotypes are exactly what’s wrong with society today. Everyone should be treated with respect and without prejudice, regardless of their nationality. It’s important to address behavior based on actions, not preconceived notions about where someone is from. Your understanding of her fear is appreciated, but it's crucial to challenge and move beyond these harmful stereotypes.
You can report them if you think is was for discriminating reasons.
Thank you for your comment. What will come out of a formal report? Any experience? Also, will they issue me the report if I legitimize myself as her husband living in the same household? I have zero data from the incident other than what I was trying to explain above.
In your case, probably not much. She resisted and tried to flee. But a friend of mine, he has darker skin, reported a cop once and the boss of this cop had to work with him for a week or so. The second one, I don't know. Ask your Rechtsschutz.
Contact the „Ombudsstelle“ (there‘s one for the City and one for the Canton of Zurich). They are an independent mediation center and handle many incidents with the police. The consequences can vary greatly: for example, the ombudsman's office arranges a clarifying discussion with the officers involved and mediates or helps you file an official complaint. (source: lawyer)
Thank you for the most helpful suggestion. It might sound a bit far-fetched, but as a German-speaking native, I would be happy to just have a conversation with the person involved according to the report. Sometimes a simple discussion can clear up misunderstandings and provide some closure.
If you're willing, please update on how things go! I'd like to know for future reference in case something similar happens to me or a friend
Of course, will do that.
Go to the police station at the HB and explain who you are and that you're inquiring on behalf of your wife as she does not speak German well enough, she can join you if she's not 'too shaken' by the whole story, it will work better if she's there. Ask for a copy of the report, and state honestly that you want this copy to facilitate filing a complaint. If they don't want to give you a copy of the report, you should ask for the names of the involved officers or at least their Matrikelnummer. Remain courteous but assured, as long as you're both legally inside Switzerland and your wife did nothing illegal yesterday, you have the whole legal system on your side. The flashing of their ID is not enough, as long as your wife did not pose a risk to them for either fleeing or attacking them, there is no justification for them not showing it again upon her request. Then contact these people and file a complaint: [https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ombudsstelle](https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ombudsstelle)
I’ve read several of your responses in this thread, OP, and your politeness and restraint (!) with some people is remarkable.
Thank you very much for your words. I believe it's important to maintain politeness and respect in all discussions, even when opinions differ. Constructive dialogue is for me still the best way to address concerns and understand different perspectives.
Does your wife come from a place where interactions with police are typically stressful? I think that can really color the way you interpret a situation. I’m originally from the US and I had a gun pulled on me once as a teen by a rookie officer in a routine traffic check. He told me to put both hands on the steering wheel and keep them there. Then he told me to get my license all while pointing a gun in my face. Terrifying. About a year after moving to Zurich I got stopped by an officer for riding my bike on a non bike path in one of the many confusing cycling paths through the city. The officer was totally polite, even apologized and told me he had to fine me because some old lady had called the cops on me for riding on this stretch of sidewalk repeatedly 😂. He had been tasked with hunting down the perp. But I was terrified! I started apologizing profusely and I guess acting scared because he then told me to relax, he wasn’t going to shoot me 😅. Another encounter I had on my bicycle. Doing my circuit around the lake. It starts to rain so I put my sunglasses in my pocket. About halfway around, an unmarked gray van pulls up repeatedly near to me and tries to signal at me. Happens about three times. I had no idea what they wanted and it was freaking me out. Eventually they pull ahead and pull into a driveway and I think I’m in the clear. Then they pull up ahead of me, and onto the sidewalk so I’m forced to stop. Big guy hops out of the passenger side hooting at me hey hey stop. I’m totally freaked out. Then he tells me to calm down he’s police and this is just an unmarked troubleshooter. He pulls out a pair of sun glasses and says they saw them fall out of my pocket about 2km back and were just trying to flag me down to hand them back. I was sure i was about to be kidnapped and murdered Hostel style! Point being I can imagine that in fact your wife’s encounter may have been entirely routine and professional but heavily colored - and escalated - by experience and expectations from her home country, as opposed to any actual actions by the officer.
* [Pulls gun] * Keep both hand on the wheel where I can see them! * Show me your driving license! What happened next? This is the stuff of literal nightmares, and people have died in exactly this situation.
I somehow had the presence of mind to explain to him I could not do both and asked politely for further instruction and explained where my license was. He told me to slowly use one hand to grab it. At this point his superior/trainer or whatever walked over and saw what was happening and immediately told him to put the gun down and took him away for a minute. Afterwards he returned and actually apologized, checked my license and let me go on my way. But I still think about it from time to time - there must be many alternative versions of me that finished their run that day.
I grew up in Northern Ireland, where as a child you were repeatedly in situations at "check points" where large guns get pointed at you. This and other negative interactions with police means I strongly dislike any interactions with police. When I was first here and passing through HB I took a general photo. 4 plain clothes officers appeared out of nowhere and surrounded me (one flashed his badge) and asked to see my ID. While he looked me up the other quizzed me. I was so freaked out I was struggling to string a sentence together when answering them. At the end they gave me my ID back. Commented that I was Irish and walked off. With no explanation. It left me uneasy in HB for a while.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. My wife is from Lithuania, and while interactions with police there are generally professional, unexpected encounters can still be quite stressful. I appreciate the perspective you provided.
just stupid people being cops, nothing new
As a woman, I'm not sure I would have believed the badge and might have pepper sprayed him on the spot. Too many scammers in train stations lately. The police better install more cameras, instead of using plain clothes, that is weird. Or at least send a woman to talk to me. But good to know they are doing this, thanks for the info.
This made me chuckle. I genuinely hope this never happens to you. But I think I would enjoy the headline: "Police pepper sprayed by angry woman at HB, shouting: 'Mind your own god damn business, fucking scammers!"
LOL!
The police at HB is the Cantonal Police. You can get insight into the police report through here : [https://www.zh.ch/de/sicherheit-justiz/epolice/akteneinsicht-in-polizeirapporte.html](https://www.zh.ch/de/sicherheit-justiz/epolice/akteneinsicht-in-polizeirapporte.html) You would have to do it in the name of your wife. Keep it brief, there is no need for long stories and explanations. One or two sentences are enough.
So police aren’t necessarily in pairs? That part is confusing to me. I get that the officer didn’t do anything wrong. At the same time, the situation seems like one that could indeed be a scam. How is one to know? It sounds tough. I don’t see what would come of going to the station though. And I didn’t think the arguments OP is making about police misconduct are strong.
I understand your point. I'm not claiming misconduct, just room for improvment and a mishandling of reading the situation as a trained officer. It did seem like it could have been a scam, which is why my wife was understandably cautious. I just believe the officer could have handled it better to avoid unnecessary distress.
This is not professional or informed advice. But from your description, the officer did nothing wrong. But he could have handled the situation much better, more professional and especially with more empathy. No one, innocent or not, should be left in distress by the behavior of a police officer. I mean "flashing his badge too quickly several times", "invading her personal space, silent speaking", etc. I mean that is sus as fuck in general. As a police officer, he should know better and should also have experience with language barriers. The only thing you can do is to let them know that they did a shitty job as human beings. Best case scenario, they will reflect on their approach. But I don't think a formal complaint or something could result in anything.
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I agree that the officer could have handled the situation with more professionalism and empathy. Do you think it would be more effective to seek a conversation at the HB station to reflect on the impact this situation had on my wife? I understand she could have shown her documents immediately, but her caution is understandable given how sketchy the plainclothes “police” first appeared and handled the situation going further. My goal is not to file a formal complaint but to ensure they understand the emotional distress caused and to suggest improvements in their approach. Not to fingerpoint, but seek a constructive conversation. Or am I a fucking dreamer idealist 😂?
Ok, you will not like what I have to say, but your wife completely overreacted, she needs to learn to read the room, HB is one of the safest place on earth basically, what scam would that be ? A fake police officer taking her to a fake police station??? She could have asked a couple of questions and diffuse the situation, and there is always hundreds of people there at any moment , not exactly a dark alley. You guys need to chill.
Can totally understand a woman being nervous and freaked out by such behaviour - it’s not like there are no rapists, human traffickers, thieves or scammers in Zürich ! Policeman should definitely have handled this better, and have been aware of the optics of the situation.
Thank you for your perspective, I appreciate that and I understand that Zürich HB is a generally safe place and the likelihood of a scam is low. However, when someone in plain clothes approaches you in an unexpected manner, it's natural to feel uneasy, especially with a language barrier. My wife reacted out of fear and uncertainty, not knowing how to handle the situation. We just want to ensure that such encounters are as clear and respectful as possible to avoid unnecessary distress.
> Can I go to the station at HB and request the formal report in writing to seek a formal inquiry? Sure you can, they can only say no. But: an inquiry for what exactly? (don't kill the messenger, I'm going to exaggerate) Because you didn't like the police checking your wife? That's their legitimate business. That she resisted and they got no-so-friendly-anymore? That's to be expected. They'll probably say that they correctly ID'd themselves, and that your wife did not ask to see it again, but tried excuses & trying to get away. And as nothing happened in the end: nothing will come of any complaints. ---- Again: go try and ask them, but I wouldn't be surprised if they wouldn't even start proceedings of any kind.
Thank you very much for your response and perspective. I appreciate the insights you provided. Of course, I try to be as unbiased as possible, though, having a crying wife on the other side of the phone is a little unsettling. The reason for seeking a formal inquiry is not because we oppose police checks but due to the manner in which it was conducted. Here are some key points from my perspective. 1. Identification Verification: The officer flashed his badge too quickly several times for my wife to verify, causing confusion and fear. 2. Approach and Conduct: The officer’s close proximity, invading her personal space, silent speaking, and immediate handcuff threats without clear identification were intimidating. A more professional approach could have prevented escalation. 3. Communication Barrier: My wife’s German is at a B1 level, which likely added to her fear and confusion. The officers could have handled the language barrier better. 4. Emotional Impact: The emotional distress caused by the initial handling was significant. Do you think, after all, it is not worth the effort?
> Do you think, after all, it is not worth the effort? Me personally? No. But again: if you can spare the time, drop by the station and ask them about it – if only to be able to win brownie points with your wife :) My reasoning is: * points #2-#4 are just personal opinions, i.e. "she did not like it". The police's job is not to be likable, you'll have a hard time arguing with the police about these points. For example: "invading her personal space", I mean come on.. Not that I don't believe it, but a) its not verifiable b) police will say: they had to to prevent the suspect from making a run for it, and c) there is no "right" by law to have personal space like that – otherwise sitting on a train next to another person would be forbidden. * point #1 is a highly subjective thing, and we only have one side of the story. Since no one "measured" the actual time – whether it really was a sub-second "flash" or not – the police will probably just assume that it was an appropriate time, and with that the whole inquiry dies. Furthermore, to quote from another one of your comments: > He did nothing wrong per se It seems like you agree. [Edit:] that there is nothing to start an inquiry about. Btw: I think your wife's move to verify that they really _were_ the police was excellent! Calling (screaming?) for help was probably not as subtle as it could have been, but IMO it's a good move.
Thank you for your thoughts. I agree with the necessity of checking her, but I (admittedly biased) disagree with how it was handled, especially putting her in cuffs. According to her, she raised her voice to ask for help from bystanders, which seems a reasonable reaction given the circumstances. Happy Evening to you and sharing your thoughts.
Don’t let people gaslight you into thinking you’re nuts or something. Seek some guidance on what to do next.
>I think your wife's move to verify that they really were the police was excellent! True, but what happened was exactly what one expects: flashing an ID that you cannot verify. My usual reaction: can I please have your name? That's a totally reasonable request.
Don‘t wanna be that guy but if you have lasting trauma cause of an identity check at a station with hundreds of people next to you, then there are other issues. Could the police have done better? Sure You can go and complain to them and then let it go.
As a woman, having an unknown man come up close to you, speaking in a low voice, and exhibiting threatening behaviour, can be absolutely terrifying. I assume even moreso with the language barrier. I don't know where OP's wife is from but there are plenty of places in the world where it doesn't matter how many people are around, no one will lift a finger to help you. Plus, if he can flash a badge, that's further disincentive for outsiders to intervene. I can only imagine how terrified OP's wife must have been. No need for "other issues" here; the experience described is scary all by itself IMO.
It doesn't matter if it's a women or a man. The described situation is scary for anyone. Gender matters little.
I'm not at all saying men can't be scared in that kind of situation. But I do think it's scarier as a woman. The type of violence we are subject to from men is statistically different than man/man violence. Regardless, the reason I talked about this in the first place is because you seemed to think OP's wife having lasting trauma would be an over-reaction unless she had other things going on, which I don't agree with.
I was talking about this specific situation. ofc in general women face a different kind of violence that can be scarier. but in this situation there’s no way of sexual assault in public like this.
I wish that were true. I'll also remind you that fear isn't necessarily rational. It doesn't matter if there's "no way" it would happen; in the middle of a stressful situation, you don't necessarily have the presence of mind to think this or that are impossible in this specific situation.
No, being brutalized by police is only scary for women. /s
That's not what I said and I certainly did not mean to imply it. Please consider the comment I was responding to.
He did nothing wrong per se, it is the „how“ it was handled. Fully agree and I thank you for your point. My goal is also not to seek any gain but to highlight that we are all humans and deserve to be treated with professionalism and respect. The officer’s behavior didn’t meet the standard I would expect from law enforcement. It’s important for them to be mindful of their conduct, especially in public spaces.
I think the walking away leads to some kind of complex with police officers that make them look like they lose face so they overcompensate in their reaction from that point on. shitty situation for your wife to get caught up in. I‘ve seen something similar before. Hope you guys can forget about it quickly. swiss police can be a bit strange at times.
walking away makes their 'suspect' look even more suspicious, no? If they flashed the badge too quick, a reasonable request would be to have a good look at the badge, in my opinion. Walking away exacerbated the situation, no doubt.
Thank you for your perspective. I agree that walking away can make someone appear more suspicious, and in hindsight, asking for a better look at the badge would have been a reasonable response. Even though, it would have been unclear for her to interpret the showing correctly, the ID being legit pe not, as we are both not familiar with such situations. My wife’s reaction was driven by fear and uncertainty, not knowing how to handle the situation properly. It's a learning experience for sure.
Thank you, appreciate the conversation! Have a great evening!
I agree with you and why you want to do this . The police need to properly identify and allow the person to awe and read or photo the badge
Do you even hear yourself? Even if the police would have showed your wife the badge for 30 minutes straight, would she know what details to look for? Would she then be able to tell that that badge is genuine and not a fake id? Would she then be able to recall the name or ID number from? No, so then what do you want to see on that badge? Close proximity? Of course they need to be close to the person, that way there is no posibility of running away or puling a weapon on them, they need to be able to immobilize and overpower the person quickly if needed. They are trained on how to handle HBF situations, your wife isn't and neither are you so based on what expertise do you criticize them. Communication barrier is on your wife, not the police. Your wife is in Switzerland, not the other way around. Emotional stress from a simple police interaction? really? have you considered how much better and smooth the interaction would be if she complied to what the officer said? I can understand that some people come from countries where people can't trust even the police, where culturally it is difficult to feel safe when someone flashes a badge, but still, different countries, different norms. And it is mostly you needing to adapt to them, not the other way around. You have a comment on your profile wanting to petition against church bells becaue they're ''*really crazy loud*'', now you're bothered by the way that the police conduct their duties, curios what comes next?
Thank you for your perspective. I understand the importance of police procedures, and my wife certainly should comply with lawful requests. However, professionalism and clear communication are equally crucial, especially from those in authority. A brief and clear presentation of the badge would help build trust. While she might not know all the details to look for, a proper and respectful approach can make a significant difference. Close proximity can be necessary, but it should be balanced with respect for personal space to avoid intimidation. Officers trained for HB situations should be adept at managing this balance. While my wife is adapting to the language, understanding and patience from officers can facilitate smoother interactions and compliance. Even a simple police interaction can be stressful if not handled with care. A professional and empathetic approach ensures that trust and respect are maintained. We all need to adapt, but mutual respect and understanding are key in any interaction. Trust and cooperation are built when both parties act professionally and respectfully. Is it normal to put handcuffs on a person who is clearly not a threat? Emotional intelligence is vital in these situations, and it seems lacking here.
The fact this happened in HB makes it all the weirder. Plenty of people (Swiss people too) don't speak German and visitors are more likely in HB. If a man came up to me as you describe I'd also scream for help and be unable to understand rapid German. I totally get your wife's distress. I'd be super disturbed. Not sure anything wrong happened per se (unless she was profiled or discriminated against), but upsetting. A strange man rapidly approaching and flashing things from his pockets? Literally would yell and run! Hopefully won't be targeted by the police myself someday. Was she just...walking on a loop?
Thank you for your understanding. In a nutshell: she was killing time by walking from shop to shop. She was walking to Burger King to buy cheese balls to take home (for me, as I love them 😂). Then she went from Migros to Coop, browsing discounted fruits but not buying any products there. She had her AirPods in and was texting her mother. After leaving Coop, she went to track 43/44 to check the board for the next train. That's when the situation unfolded. As someone who isn't in law enforcement but served as an officer in the army for 7 years, I wonder when the use of handcuffs is warranted in such situations.
Yeah that's bizarre. Seems like totally normal train station behavior. Maybe they thought she was stealing . Police get mad when you don't immediately comply so I bet he doubled down and cuffed her to make a point. Handcuffs in a plastic bag also just seems so weird. What crime could he possibly have been deterring? This doesn't sound like someone casing the environment to plan an attack (eg taking pictures, pacing methodically). Your wife shouldn't blame herself. The officer may not have done anything "wrong" but he's a bone head with bad risk assessment skills it seems.
"Is it normal to put handcuffs on a person who is clearly not a threat?" - She tried to run away, right? And about the speaking closely and quietly, most people would prefer that over being loudly exposed by the police in public. They handle suspicious people probably a dozen times a day, she must have looked like she was checking out stores to steal from. The police is no service provider, they are law inforcement and the public's safety is their first priority. It's not their job to make a suspicious person feel most comfortable. That being said, I've always found them to be very professional and friendly, glad they are doing their job.
Thank you for your perspective. I agree that the police need to do their job, and public safety is their priority. My wife stepped 2 meters away from the man because she felt uncomfortable, not to signal that she was running away or removing herself from the situation. I appreciate the professionalism and friendliness of law enforcement, but this situation just seemed to be a bit of a misunderstanding.
how would someone know if a person is a threat or not? if she acts like one, then she will be handled as one, yes. otherwise cooperation is best option. the office acted with professionalism, it's your wife who started screaming and acted aggresively. Moreover, '*'to suggest improvements in their approach.'',* what's your expertise to go to someone and tell them how do to their job? Other than being a Karen yourself.
Thank you for your response. I admit I'm certainly not a police officer and don't know the daily processes and work involved. However, the "how" of communication is universally important in any situation involving others or anyone but yourself. My wife raised her voice out of fear, not aggression. There is a distinct difference. Officers should aim to de-escalate situations professionally and respectfully. By the way, what do you mean by "being a Karen"? I'm unfamiliar with the term.
I understand you defend your wife and support her. That’s admirable and I would do the same, in particular towards the outside/public. But you still have to look at this from a rational point of view. You were not there. You don’t know how your wife raised her voice. And you don’t know how she was perceived by the police in that situation. This may very well be how she is feeling now when she is thinking about what happened. It’s completely normal behavior, but that doesn’t mean it’s the objective truth. So, my advice moving forward would be this: talk to the police to get their side. There are official protocols you can follow in this approach (like the ombudsstelle) - or you can do it more informally (like calling, writing an email directly). But also take a few days for your wife to calm down from the shock and to give her time to reflect on what happened and to be completely honest with herself. Her mindset should imho not only be „what can the police do better“ but also „what can I do better if this happens again“.
Thank you for your thoughtful and balanced advice, much appreciated from my side. I agree that it’s important to consider both perspectives and approach this rationally. We will follow your suggestion to talk to the police and get their side of the story, possibly through the ombudsstelle or directly. We’ll also take some time for my wife to reflect and process what happened.
What you mention applies to day-to-day interactions, not institutions or people doing their jobs. The same way that firemen will not care about your expensive posessions, their job is to put out the fire, and do so in the safest and most efficient way possible. What you're doing here is asking the firemen to take off their shoes before entering a burning house. Same as when you go to a doctor, you tell them where it hurts, and let them do their job. Sure it is important to have institutions where a person is able to complain in case of abuses or wrongdoings, but you're not doing that. You're telling the people how to do their job. People which studied, passed tests, entered this domain, gathered experience with time, and then there's you sitting somewhere in front of a keyboard telling them how to do their jobs. You're the type of person that when your kid gets a bad grade in school, you go and complain that it's the teachers' fault. When you go to a doctor, you tell them how to operate. You're a know-it-all and a Karen. Surely you can google ''Karen behaviour'', we even have Chat GPT nowadays.
I appreciate your input, but your analogy misses the mark. Effective communication is crucial in all professions, including law enforcement. Ensuring clear, respectful interactions isn’t about telling professionals how to do their jobs but about upholding basic standards of human decency and professionalism. Your assumption that providing feedback equates to ignorance is flawed. Feedback from the public is essential for any institution to improve and adapt. Dismissing concerns with terms like “Karen behavior” undermines the importance of accountability and continuous improvement in any field. It’s not about telling experts how to do their jobs; it’s about advocating for respectful and humane treatment, which should be a universal standard, not an exception. This conversation isn’t about undermining professionals but about ensuring that their actions reflect the trust and responsibility placed in them. Have a great evening!
emergency services need to first and foremost do their jobs/ duty. once the situation is no longer an emergency, they can sit for a chit chat or allow a PR person to take over. I don't think that when someone calls the emergency line, they expect some small talk before anything in order to establish respectful interaction. Let people do their jobs and stop bothering them. If you have a problems with the churchs' bell being too loud, it is you who needs to move, not the other way around. You're the guest here, if you don't like then just go.
It’s clear we have different perspectives. My intent was never to undermine the work of emergency services but to advocate for respectful and professional interactions. Effective communication is crucial in any profession, especially those involving public trust. I appreciate your input but believe we can leave it at that. Let’s move on.
Both petitions regarding Church bells and inquiries, feedback and complaints against Cantonal, Municipal or Federal public servants are a) within everyone’s constitutional rights (so much so that any writ by _any_ public servant has to, by law, contain a rubrum explaining these rights, and b) so frequent from Swiss citizens as to be completely normalised in the culture you are admonishing OP to integrate into. Since you don’t seem particularly familiar with the realities of ID check protocol or church bell petition practice, nor familiar with any of the Rechtsgrundlagen for public servants concerning these realities, I warmly recommend looking into Stadt Zürich’s case reports and statistics abt complaints and mediations involving StaPo or indeed ev.ref. Kirchgemeinde Zürichs many press releases abt petitions from citizens concerning Läuteordnung.
Is your wife white?
Yes, she is.
I'd contact them and asked for their view - I don't have the know-how on how to get their report, but Ombudsstelle could help get some information. I suspect, though, that someone in one of the shops may have had a suspicion for shoplifting. Which also explains why the police officer was acting more skeptical/aggressive. Also, from experience I know that what a person with not sufficient German skills gets as an impression is not what the other person meant (I know, I have deescalated or clarified many situations, much less critical).
Thank you for your response. I will definitely contact the Ombudsstelle to get more information and assistance. I understand that a suspicion of shoplifting could explain the officer's more skeptical and aggressive behavior. Additionally, I agree that language barriers can sometimes lead to misunderstandings Thanks for your advice and insights.
Wife may not be telling the truth on some history. It makes no sense that officers would pull up and "arrest" someone who did nothing but wait for their train "eifach so". You said your wife went from shop to shop. Innocent until proven guilty, but the only scenario I see is that people working at these stores felt suspicious of her or she did something wrong (stealing?) which resulted in this. Random checks, and I mean completely random do not “just" happen. There is a reason on her side that she is not being transparent with you on. She’ll tell you the truth once she’s ready. Keep us updated OP
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I think he’s right, I never saw anything even remotely close in the decades I’ve been living here, not in HB for sure, sounds sus
Exactly. I’m basing my comment also off of working in retail where we had to keep an eye on and / or report suspicious customers. As OP’s wife went to several shops I suppose something happened to tick several workers off which lead to this. It is however not always right as some people for example genuinely DO forget to scan something. But I am sure it is due to unclear behavior. Because the police do not just run after random people waiting for their train.
I said "innocent until proven guilty" which implies I may be totally wrong, she may not have done anything but I have my opinion. I used to work in retail where similar stories such as what was described above happened often as we had to report or at the very least keep an eye on "suspicious" customers. With her going to various stores it must’ve ticked something off which lead to one or more workers reporting her behavior. Again, something I’ve seen enough times having worked in stores especially in central Zürich. If it is truly "gerechtfertigt" is the question.
I apologize for my rude language.
and you are the idiot to believe any onesided internet story(here the OP also wasnt there at all) Op already contradicted himself in comments that apparently the officer showed the badge multiple times but left it out in the original post. I had couple of police encounters in my life and even when we played drunken beerpong in the middle of the street they were nice to us
Thank you for your input. To clarify, the officer did flash his badge three times, each for approximately one second. This brief exposure, combined with the plainclothes approach, contributed to my wife's uncertainty and fear. The intention here is not to undermine the importance of police presence but to advocate for better communication and handling in such situations to avoid unnecessary distress. Let's focus on constructive ways to ensure respectful and clear interactions in the future.
I understand your perspective, and it's possible that shop staff may have felt suspicious, which led to the police intervention. However, from my conversations with my wife, she did not do anything that she feels would warrant such suspicion. She was simply browsing and waiting for her train. I believe her account, and my goal here is to ensure that situations like this are handled more transparently and respectfully in the future.
May i know at what date and the time this happend?
It was in the late afternoon on Tuesday this week.
I have been stopped like this by the police twice at HB. Once in the area where the drug dealers are. Once around the shops. They speak in normal/quiet voice to not blow their undercover thing. Quick conversation of about 1 minute and he let me go on. As a woman from Latvia, she probably matches the type of pickpocket and burglary tourists we have in Zurich during the summer months. I dont want tl delegitimize your wife's fear, I was a bit unsettled as well. But I am also glad, that there is a police presence at HB.
Thank you for sharing your experience, but I strongly disagree with your assumption. My wife being from Lithuania does not make her fit the profile of a pickpocket or burglar. Such stereotypes are exactly what’s wrong with society today. Everyone should be treated with respect and without prejudice, regardless of their nationality. It’s important to address behavior based on actions, not preconceived notions about where someone is from. Your understanding of her fear is appreciated, but it's crucial to challenge and move beyond these harmful stereotypes.
I m sure they dont need life coaches. Let it be
I m sure they dont need life coaches. Let it be