With a blue light in use - A Weidemann 1160 at the Magdeburg police task force.

Since 2019, an articulated colleague has been in application at the Technischen Einsatzeinheit (Technical Deployment Unit) (TEE) of the police task force in Magdeburg.

The traffic-blue painted Weidemann 1160 bears the lettering POLIZEI and a blue light, just like the off-road vehicles, which transport it on a trailer to application sites. In use, it can be immediately recognised and supports the whole team in special tasks.

One of the primary asks of the Hoftrac is the transport of Hamburg barrier (crowd barriers) in the preparation of large-scale events. The Magdeburg police task force regularly oversees football matches for FC Magdeburg and the Halleschen FC, in addition to other large-scale events like demonstrations, rallies and political gatherings. In doing so, the residents of Magdeburg not only cooperate with the 27 locations in Saxony-Anhalt, but also with the other East-German states. They share personnel and equipment so that it is possible to use the Weidemann in other states and even upon request nationwide. “This has nevertheless not happened yet”, said Sirko Abicht of the TEE Magdeburg. “However, colleagues at the G7 Summit in June 2022 were very interested in our experience.” The Weidemann 1160 is equipped with a pallet fork and a grapple bucket. Both attachments are well suited to the different applications.The grapple bucket, for example, is used if bone finds are notified during survey work. “It is possible to inadvertently hit a grave from the Bronze Age.” said Sirko Abicht and adds “of course we close it again, thus protecting peace in death. However, it is also possible that there is something more behind the bone finds.”

Thanks to its compact and light design, it is possible to use the Hoftrac there where heavy objects need to be taken out of tight constructions. This is how, for example, an indoor plantation occurred during a discovery. “We are completely satisfied with the little one. It has taken so much work off of us already”, Dirk Kober, Head of the TEE Magdeburg, also expresses his joy. The machine does not have a set operator at the TEE; but can be operated by all of the 50 members of the unit. Four colleagues from the Weidemann distributor were initially extensively trained as a basis. They then served as multipliers and have passed their knowledge onto colleagues. This occurs regularly within the framework of the training days. Every week there is a training day at which colleagues can learn how, for example, to handle a chainsaw or how to operator the wheel loader, alongside their shooting practice. There are different options available on their own practice terrain.

Naturally, the 1160 is cherished and maintained by everyone, because it must always be ready for its next application. This means that alongside the technical operational readiness, it must also have a clean and representative appearance. We expect that many more interesting applications await the 1160 at the Magdeburg police task force.