Water rescue and police: strong alliance for more security in Linz!

Water rescue and police: strong alliance for more security in Linz!

Linz, Österreich - On June 4, 2025, a delegation of the Austrian water rescue under the direction of Dr. Gerald Berger the State Police Directorate in Linz. Reason enough to discuss the increasingly demanding tasks of the police in connection with international crises. State Police Director STV. Genmjr Günther Humer, BA Ma, warmly welcomed the guests and opened the exchange about the necessary strategies to ensure public security.

A special highlight of the visit was the presentation of new operating boats for the Salzkammergutseen by Colonel Klaus Scherleitner, head of the state traffic department. One of the boats is to be put into service at Lake Traunsee in June, which further strengthens the cooperation between water rescue and the police.

insight into the operations center

The delegation also had the opportunity to visit the police headquarters, including the operations center and the state control center. These facilities are the heart of emergency processing, where emergency calls are accepted under number 133 and automatic alarms such as e-call systems are processed. Such technologies are becoming increasingly important, especially with regard to the security requirements in times of crisis.

Another exciting element of the visit was the presentation of the Linz water police inspection. Chef Insp. Christian Hauser informed those present about the “Lentia” police boat and made an informative journey to the Danube Valley Bridge. Here it was again shown how important the cooperation and the exchange of information between the various rescue organizations are.

Cooperation in use

The close cooperation between the police and water rescue is becoming increasingly relevant in everyday operations and in crisis situations. The responsible people emphasize that the water rescue includes a variety of auxiliary measures that range from emergencies in the swimming pool to boats to ice accidents. These tasks are not only locally, but often and, as in Germany, often require the services of the DLRG, which plays a central role in the water rescue service.

The water rescuers are involved in the monitoring of bathing beaches and the safety of water sports enthusiasts and do first aid measures on site. The organization and coordination of the emergency services are also part of their core tasks. In the water rescue, the DLRG acts both in the public mandate - i.e. under the legal regulations or on behalf of municipalities - and on a private basis, for example in swimming pools.

Overall, the visit to Linz was perceived by the members of the water rescue as insightful and appreciative. The emphasized years of cooperation are not only a sign of respect, but also a need for the security of the population in Austria.

For more information about the tasks of the water rescue, a look at the DLRG page or the pages of nordrhein.dlrg.de.