After the 1st Chairman of the Verein Sicherer Landkreis Ludwigsburg association and former Chief of Police Burkhard Metzger had welcomed those present, District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier first spoke about the increasing violence against emergency services, but also against bus drivers, members of law enforcement services, representatives of authorities and mayors: "The fact that emergency services often put their own health and lives at risk to help other people shows how perfidious the attacks on emergency services are." He recalled how important the support of the blue light organizations has been, for example during the corona pandemic, but also during the flood disaster in the Ahr valley. According to the district administrator, almost 6,000 volunteers in the Ludwigsburg district are there to ensure the safety of the district's population in fire and disaster protection - supported by full-time staff, especially in the rescue service. "That's why it's important to raise awareness and educate the population: Anyone who attacks rescue workers is crossing a 'red line'; we must not look the other way here, but must take unequivocal action and I also see this as a task for society as a whole, a task for the Alliance of Reasonable People."
Anyone who crosses red lines is also going against the basic democratic order, social coexistence and the common good, continued the head of the district administration. The Basic Law gives people the right to freedom and assembly, the right to freedom of expression and much more. However, it also gives people duties, including in particular the welfare of the people as a whole. "Our democracy is special, our freedom is special for each and every one of us. Anyone who tramples on this or causes harm to others cannot hope for understanding, but should be punished. However, this also includes consistent application of our laws by the judiciary." District Administrator Allgaier emphasized: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of our emergency services and express my sincere respect for their great, self-sacrificing commitment in all areas, especially in the times of crisis in recent years. Without you, the people in the district would not feel as safe and would not be able to feel as safe."
The district knows what it has in its emergency services and that it can rely on them - and vice versa, they can also rely on the district. In recent years, the district has strengthened its civil protection team, it is also involved in the integrated control center (ILS) and is represented on the rescue services committee. Together with various blue-light organizations, the district is setting up halls to accommodate refugees and is currently updating the "mass casualty incident" concept together with experts from the emergency services. Plans for a new civil protection and disaster control center are also in full swing.
Afterwards, Police Commissioner Thomas Wild, the Chairman of the District Fire Brigade Association, Klaus Haug, and Chief Emergency Doctor Dr. Stefan Weiß spoke as representatives of the blue-light organizations present. In their short speeches, they each looked at the topic of respect from the perspective of their own organization.
Andrea Wommelsdorf and Burkard Knöpker, two members of the "Initiative for Respect and Tolerance" from Münster, which initiated the exhibition, were also present at the opening. With moving words, Wommelsdorf, who came up with the idea, described her thoughts and feelings after the night of riots in Stuttgart and her incomprehension as to why nobody raised their voices in support of the emergency services. Shortly afterwards, she approached three friends and the initiative was born. The exhibition "The person behind the uniform" shows exactly that: the person behind the job, behind the uniform. With life-size photographs and concise texts, the people become tangible and perceptible with their entire personality. A new exhibit has also been created for the exhibition in Ludwigsburg: It shows a female officer from the criminal investigation department at Ludwigsburg police headquarters.
The exhibition can be seen up to and including April 7 in the atrium of the first district building extension at Hindenburgstraße 30, 71638 Ludwigsburg, during the normal opening hours of the district office. Citizens with further interest in the exhibition are welcome to contact the Verein Sicherer Landkreis Ludwigsburg.
