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.
police officer
'der Polizist' and 'der Ermittler' can both have to do with crimes and investigations. 'Polizist' names the person by their job with the police. 'Ermittler' names the person by their task: they look for facts, question people, and clarify an incident. An investigator can work for the police, but the term is not as general as 'Polizist'. The words are easy to confuse because police officers can also investigate. When it is about general police work, 'Polizist' fits. When the investigation is the focus, 'Ermittler' is more precise.
Am Morgen sucht der Ermittler am Tatort nach neuen Spuren.
In the morning, the investigator searches for new clues at the crime scene.
Der Polizist nimmt die Anzeige auf und notiert die Adresse des Zeugen.
The police officer takes the report and writes down the witness's address.