Crime - Animal cruelty at the equestrian squadron? Trial against police officers
Two police officers from the Mannheim equestrian squadron will go on trial on Thursday (9.00 a.m.) for allegedly torturing horses. A verdict could be reached on the same day.
According to the Mannheim district court, the officers allegedly beat animals separately at different times between winter 2019 and the end of 2021 with a riding crop and the flat of their hands. One of them is also alleged to have tied a jute sack filled with empty cans of food or drinks to a horse and thus "significantly impaired" the animal's well-being due to the loud rattling noises. He had applied a pepper-based paste to the feed trough of another service horse over a period of days in order to prevent it from behaving abnormally.
The officers were reportedly 38 and 54 years old respectively at the time of the offense. They did not accept the penalty orders, as a court spokesperson explained. The case will therefore now go to trial. The charge is suspected of violating the Animal Welfare Act. Only one date has been set so far. The spokesperson did not provide any information on the amount of the penalty orders. According to the police headquarters, the officers are still employed by the equestrian squadron.
The whole thing came to light following a complaint in mid-March 2022. A spokesperson did not provide any details. There have been no internal consequences so far: "Disciplinary proceedings have not been initiated for the time being, and the matter will be conclusively investigated once the criminal investigation has been concluded."
The number of employees and animals at the equestrian squadron in Mannheim reportedly fluctuates. In general, there is a need for 15 fully qualified police horses, 15 police riders as well as a manager and 6 people to look after the animals.
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- The alleged animal cruelty incidents involving the police officers occurred primarily in Baden-Württemberg, specifically within the Mannheim equestrian squadron.
- The local court in Mannheim is overseeing the criminal processes related to the police officers' alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act, due to their suspected brutal treatment of horses.
- Contributing to the suspected cruelty to animals, one of the officers reportedly tied a jute sack filled with empty cans to a horse, disturbing its peaceful environment with excessive noise.
- In Mannheim, the equestrian squadron, responsible for maintaining a team of police horses and riders, is currently employing both police officers under investigation for animal abuse.
- Although some forms of animal cruelty are punishable by law in Germany, the police are also involved in maintaining animal welfare by registering and vetting animals used for the purposes of law enforcement, such as service horses.
Source: www.stern.de
