commissioner / inspector
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detective inspector
A senior criminal police officer who is responsible for solving crimes. The female form is 'die Kommissarin' (female detective inspector).
Der Kommissar befragte den Zeugen am Tatort.
The detective inspector questioned the witness at the crime scene.
commissioner
A high office in the European Union; a member of the European Commission.
Der EU-Kommissar für Wirtschaft stellte die neuen Prognosen vor.
The EU commissioner for economic affairs presented the new forecasts.
commissar
Historically or in certain political systems, an official with special powers, e.g. a political commissar.
In der Sowjetunion überwachte der politische Kommissar die ideologische Ausrichtung der Armee.
In the Soviet Union, the political commissar supervised the ideological orientation of the army.
The meaning of 'Kommissar' depends strongly on the topic. In a crime story, it is a police officer; in news about politics, often an EU official; and in a history book, an official or functionary.
Der Kommissar für digitale Wirtschaft hat heute eine Rede gehalten.
The commissioner for the digital economy gave a speech today.
The word belongs to a family of related terms. The female form is 'die Kommissarin' (female commissioner / detective inspector). The special police department where criminal investigators work is called 'das Kommissariat' (police station / criminal investigation department).
Die neue Kommissarin leitet die Ermittlungen.
The new detective inspector is leading the investigation.
In the context of police work, 'Kommissar' is often used with certain verbs. Typical examples are: 'Der Kommissar ermittelt' (the detective inspector investigates), 'er befragt Zeugen' (he questions witnesses), or 'er löst einen Fall' (he solves a case).
Der Kommissar ermittelt in einem komplizierten Mordfall.
The detective inspector is investigating a complicated murder case.
When 'Kommissar' is mentioned in politics, it usually means a member of the European Commission. The area of responsibility is often named, e.g. 'der Kommissar für Handel' (the commissioner for trade).
Die Kommissarin für Energie hat neue Klimaziele vorgestellt.
The commissioner for energy presented new climate goals.
investigator
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.
Kommissar Weber leitet die Untersuchung des Einbruchs.
Detective Inspector Weber is leading the investigation into the burglary.
Als Ermittler untersucht Weber die Spuren des Einbruchs.
As an investigator, Weber is examining the evidence from the burglary.
