Bullying allegations

Acquittal for police chiefs, one charge remains

In Upper Austria, the management trio of the state police directorate has been acquitted of allegations of misconduct.(Bild: Uta Rojsek-Wiedergut)

The police leadership in Upper Austria was accused in an anonymous letter of failing to act in connection with allegations of bullying against an officer. The commission has now come to the conclusion that the leadership trio around state police director Andreas Pilsl acted without fault. However, the officer was reported for disciplinary action.

The allegations against managers of the Upper Austrian Provincial Police Directorate were "examined by a commission set up in Section I of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and independent of the Directorate General for Public Security (Section II)" - "extensive interviews and investigations were carried out".

According to a police statement, no misconduct under service and disciplinary law was found on the part of the superiors, State Police Director Andreas Pilsl and his deputies. Disciplinary charges will be filed against the other officer. He is alleged to have bullied a top female officer in chats and conversations.