Wolfgang Albers (police president)

Wolfgang Albers was a German police officer who served as the President of the Hamburg Police from 2009 to 2016. His tenure was marked by both successes in crime reduction and controversies that ultimately led to his early retirement.

Albers joined the Hamburg police force in 1976 and held various positions throughout his career, including head of the riot police and head of the criminal investigation department. In 2009, he was appointed police president, the highest-ranking officer in the Hamburg police.

As police president, Albers oversaw a period of declining crime rates in Hamburg. He implemented strategies focused on combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and street violence. However, he also faced criticism for his handling of certain events, particularly the G20 summit in Hamburg in 2017.

The G20 summit was marred by widespread violence and property damage. Albers was criticized for the police's perceived inadequate response to the unrest, and for alleged failures in intelligence gathering and security planning. In the aftermath of the summit, calls for his resignation grew, and he was eventually removed from his position by the Hamburg Senator of the Interior in December 2016, several months before the summit actually took place. The stated reason for his removal was a loss of public trust and confidence in his leadership.

Albers' career reflects the challenges of policing in a major urban center and the complex interplay between law enforcement, public safety, and political accountability. His legacy remains a subject of debate in Hamburg and beyond.