investigator
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investigator
A person, usually with the police or an authority, who professionally conducts investigations to establish facts about a crime or incident.
Der Ermittler befragte alle Zeugen des Unfalls.
The investigator questioned all the witnesses to the accident.
'Der Ermittler' (the investigator) comes directly from the verb 'ermitteln' (to investigate), which means 'untersuchen' (to investigate/examine) or 'herausfinden' (to find out). The ending '-er' refers to the person who carries out this activity.
Die Polizei hat begonnen, in dem Fall zu ermitteln.
The police have begun investigating the case.
Investigators are often the subject of verbs that describe an investigation. Typical sentences are: 'Der Ermittler befragt Zeugen' (the investigator questions witnesses), 'sucht nach Spuren' (looks for traces/evidence), or 'nimmt die Ermittlungen auf' (opens the investigation).
Die Ermittler suchen am Tatort nach Spuren.
The investigators are looking for evidence at the crime scene.
This word is almost always used in connection with crime, accidents, or official investigations. You often find it in the news, crime novels/TV shows, and police reports.
Die Ermittler gehen von Brandstiftung aus.
The investigators suspect arson.
commissioner / inspector
Kommissar refers to a senior criminal police officer and thus to the person’s position within the police. Ermittler, by contrast, describes the role of someone who investigates a case. A Kommissar can therefore work as an Ermittler, but not every Ermittler is a Kommissar.
Als Ermittler untersucht Weber die Spuren des Einbruchs.
As an investigator, Weber is examining the evidence from the burglary.
Kommissar Weber leitet die Untersuchung des Einbruchs.
Detective Inspector Weber is leading the investigation into the burglary.
