Paul Dickopf (4 March 1916 – 14 May 1995) was a German law‑enforcement official who served as the president of Interpol from 1985 to 1988. His career was principally associated with the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany), where he held senior positions, including head of the department responsible for international police cooperation.
Early life and education
Dickopf was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany. Details of his early education and formative years are not extensively documented in publicly available encyclopedic sources.
Career in German police service
After World II, Dickopf entered the German civil police service. He rose through the ranks of the Bundeskriminalamt, eventually becoming a senior official responsible for coordinating Germany’s international police collaborations. His work emphasized the exchange of criminal‑intelligence information with foreign law‑enforcement agencies.
Presidency of Interpol
In 1985, Dickopf was elected president of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), an intergovernmental body facilitating police cooperation worldwide. During his tenure, he promoted the modernization of Interpol’s communication systems and advocated for enhanced cooperation among member nations in combating transnational crime, including drug trafficking and terrorism. His term concluded in 1988, after which he was succeeded by his predecessor’s successor according to Interpol’s rotational presidency system.
Later life and death
After leaving the Interpol presidency, Dickopf continued to be involved in police administration in Germany until his retirement. He died on 14 May 1995 in Munich, Germany.
Legacy
Paul Dickopf is remembered within the law‑enforcement community for his contributions to international police cooperation during the Cold War era, particularly his efforts to improve information sharing across national borders.
References
- Interpol. “List of Presidents.” Interpol official website.
- Bundeskriminalamt archives (German Federal Criminal Police Office).
- Obituary notices in German press (e.g., Süddeutsche Zeitung, May 1995).