police call / Polizeiruf
Loading your saved state.
police call
A call to the police to report an emergency, a crime, or a suspicious situation.
Nachdem sie die zerbrochene Scheibe bemerkt hatte, tätigte die Nachbarin sofort einen Polizeiruf.
After noticing the broken window, the neighbor immediately made a police call.
Polizeiruf
The title of a well-known German TV crime series ('Polizeiruf 110').
Am Sonntagabend schaue ich fast immer den neuen Polizeiruf im Ersten.
On Sunday evenings, I almost always watch the new episode of Polizeiruf on Das Erste.
The word is simply made up of 'Polizei' (police) and 'der Ruf' (call). So it literally describes a call directed to the police.
Der laute Schrei in der Nacht war der Grund für den Polizeiruf.
The loud scream in the night was the reason for the police call.
You can easily recognize the meaning from the context. If an emergency is being discussed, it means the call. If the sentence mentions television, Sunday evening, or the number '110', however, it is about the famous crime series.
Ein anonymer Polizeiruf führte die Beamten zum Tatort.
An anonymous police call led the officers to the crime scene.
When someone calls the police, the formal expression 'einen Polizeiruf absetzen' (to place a police call) or 'tätigen' (to make) is often used. This is typical of reporting or official language.
Der Zeuge hat sofort nach dem Vorfall einen Polizeiruf abgesetzt.
The witness placed a police call immediately after the incident.
'Polizeiruf 110' is the name of a very well-known German crime series that was originally produced in East Germany. It is a fixed part of German television culture.
Meine Eltern haben schon zu DDR-Zeiten jeden Polizeiruf gesehen.
My parents watched every episode of Polizeiruf even back in East German times.
emergency call
Notruf is the usual term for an urgent call made through a special emergency number, even when the police are contacted. Polizeiruf can refer to a call to the police, but it is uncommon and is not limited to acute emergencies. In an emergency, Notruf is therefore usually the appropriate term.
Der Polizeiruf der Zeugin betraf eine verdächtige Beobachtung, aber keinen akuten Notfall.
The witness's call to the police concerned a suspicious observation, but not an acute emergency.
Wegen des bewaffneten Mannes setzte die Zeugin sofort einen Notruf ab.
Because of the armed man, the witness immediately made an emergency call.
