The shooting of a twelve-year-old deaf girl by a police officer in Bochum last weekend is sparking intense debate and raising serious questions about the escalating use of force by German law enforcement. Markus Thiel, a professor of public law specializing in police law at the German Police University in Münster, has publicly defended the officer’s actions, arguing they were justifiable under the principle of “self-defense.
Thiel’s rationale, reported by Watson news portal, asserts that officers facing imminent threat, particularly from a potential knife attack, experience a pressure that necessitates immediate action, even potentially lethal. He controversially suggested that the legal restrictions on using firearms against minors could be overridden in such circumstances, drawing a chilling comparison to a three-year-old wielding a knife and posing a threat.
The incident, occurring in the early hours of Monday morning, involved a deaf girl who reportedly fled a youth facility and was reported missing. Police responded to the girl’s location at her mother’s apartment, where she allegedly approached officers wielding two knives. The shooting has understandably generated widespread shock and anger within the community.
While acknowledging that instances exist where the use of firearms by police is clearly unlawful, Thiel insisted that in this particular case, the shooting was justified. This pronouncement, however, is unlikely to quell the rising concerns about the widening scope of police discretionary power and the potential for disproportionate force, especially when dealing with vulnerable individuals. Critics argue Thiel’s perspective normalizes the escalation of force and inadequately considers alternatives to potentially lethal intervention.
The case has ignited a renewed political discussion regarding police training protocols, the use of force guidelines and the specific challenges in interacting with individuals with disabilities. Opposition parties are calling for a thorough and independent investigation, demanding a critical examination of the circumstances leading to the shooting and a reassessment of the criteria by which police are permitted to deploy lethal force. The incident underscores the urgent need for greater oversight and accountability within German law enforcement and a deeper examination of the societal factors that contribute to such tragic events.
