Greifswald: Police officer demoted due to data misuse – verdict passed!
On June 27, 2025, the Greifswald Administrative Court decided on disciplinary measures against a police officer for unlawful data queries.

Greifswald: Police officer demoted due to data misuse – verdict passed!
A ruling was made today at the administrative court in Greifswald that has a strong impact on the promotion of a police officer. A 53-year-old officer from Greifswald was accused of accessing personal data from police databases without authorization. Despite this seriousness, however, he remains in the service and is only demoted, reports NDR.
The decision was made on June 27, 2025. The unexpected development means in concrete terms: Instead of being a police chief, the officer will be demoted to a police master in the future. His grade will also drop from A 8 to A 7. A three-year promotion ban is also on the table, which will prevent him from being promoted again in the near future. This descent is the second most severe measure provided for by the state disciplinary law.
The lengthy disciplinary process
The road to this verdict was long and rocky. There are no two opinions about this: civil servants have to deal not only with the criminal law system, but also with the disciplinary system. Regular checks and the need to always act correctly put an enormous strain on them anwal.de shows. This constant monitoring often happens completely unnoticed through possible existing investigations or reports. Officials are bound to behave both legally and morally.
If an official is accused, disciplinary proceedings often take place, which can take place independently of any ongoing criminal proceedings. Disciplinary measures ranging from reprimands to dismissal are not uncommon in these cases. So the police officer in question will definitely be under strict scrutiny in front of the eyes of society and his colleagues.
The role of comparisons and judgments
This makes fair comparisons between civil servants all the more important. The assessment of performance is crucial in determining culpable underperformance. Crucial deficiencies beyond normal failure must be proven; the analysis of the judgment makes it clear that the officer from Greifswald is ultimately balancing in the gap between acceptance and blame. Case law requires clear evidence of misconduct to justify disciplinary action, as evidenced by the court's decisions to quash dismissal orders, it stands openjur.de.
In conclusion, the case provides further compelling evidence: officers are under immense pressure, which can make for a tough workplace. The punished officer is an example of the challenges that need to be overcome in this employed position.