BERLIN – Cologne’s police chief has been removed amid criticism of his force’s handling of a string of New Year’s Eve assaults and robberies.
Cologne police said Friday that Wolfgang Albers is being sent into early retirement by the state government. They said North Rhine-Westphalia’s governing Cabinet will formally discuss the decision on Tuesday but Albers will not return to his job.
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Albers had faced mounting criticism both for the police’s handling of last week’s events and of the fallout.
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Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker suggested Friday that police had held back information from her, and said in a statement that her “trust in the Cologne police leadership is significantly shaken.”
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