What do pastors, hoteliers and police officers have in common? They don’t like to talk about their clientele. Bernhard Larcher, 64, a village policeman in Rüschlikon, also thinks so. If you ask him about exciting cases, he remains discreetly silent. And at the Hotel Belvoir? He has also already received a call from the management, which had a strange gut feeling about a guest. “I passed by. But there were never any special incidents.” Not even stolen bathrobes? Nothing.

When listing his tasks, however, Bernhard Larcher draws on the full: requests for legal assistance, simplified naturalizations, delivery of payment orders, traffic and identity checks. A typical day? “In the morning I secured the way to school, then I had to go to a traffic accident, in between I briefly rescued a cat and in the afternoon I talked to a woman who prefers to go to the police rather than to the social welfare office with her problems. Pretty varied, my job!” He smiles contentedly.

At the service of people
He has spent the last 17 years of service in the community on Lake Zurich, and he will retire in May. “As a village policeman, you can still be a service provider. Anyone can come to me, no matter what, and we look for a solution together. I have always particularly liked this exchange with people about my job.” Over the years, however, the way of dealing with them has already changed: 20 years ago, he told a young person what he had to do. Today, respect for the uniform and for the police has decreased. Especially in the city, but also here in the “provinces”. Nevertheless, he still enjoyed coming to work over the hill of Adliswil every day.

For Kapo coffee at Belvoir
Policeman Larcher comes to the Belvoir regularly. For Kapo coffee, where the police officers of Kilchberg, Thalwil and Rüschlikon meet once a week to exchange ideas. “This also gives you contact with the population and staff. I feel the people better here than just at the post.” The fact that he sits in the café with his uniform has never been a problem in all these years. One reason for this is certainly the staff, who in addition to good service also ensures a good atmosphere. “I see my profession as a service to people. Similar to the service staff, with whom I have good contacts. After my third visit, they knew what I wanted.” That’s why he will continue to drink coffee at Belvoir from time to time after his retirement. “Or a Prosecco. Then I’m no longer on duty.” He says so, gets into his official car and drives down to the village. Rescue the next cat.

Author: Anina Rether