police station
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police station
A building that serves as a police department or station. Police officers work here, and citizens can file reports or seek help.
Nach dem Diebstahl ging sie zur nächsten Polizeiwache, um Anzeige zu erstatten.
After the theft, she went to the nearest police station to file a report.
This word is made up of 'die Polizei' (the police) and 'die Wache' (the guard station/station). A 'Wache' is a place of guarding or an office/station, so the 'Polizeiwache' (police station) is the police office/station.
Die Wache der örtlichen Polizei ist Tag und Nacht besetzt.
The local police station is staffed day and night.
To express movement there, you use 'zur Polizeiwache gehen' (to go to the police station). To describe a location or an activity there, you say 'auf der Polizeiwache sein/arbeiten' (to be/work at the police station).
Sie musste zur Polizeiwache, um den Verlust ihres Ausweises zu melden.
She had to go to the police station to report the loss of her ID.
Typical reasons for going to a 'Polizeiwache' (police station) are to 'eine Anzeige erstatten' (file a report), 'einen Diebstahl melden' (report a theft), or 'eine Aussage machen' (give a statement).
Der Zeuge musste auf der Polizeiwache eine detaillierte Aussage machen.
The witness had to give a detailed statement at the police station.
police
Both Polizei and Polizeiwache can refer to the building that houses a police department. In this use, Polizei refers metonymically to the institution or, depending on the context, the place, whereas Polizeiwache explicitly names the building. Polizeiwache is therefore more precise when you want to clearly indicate a location.
Wir gehen zur Polizeiwache, um dort eine Anzeige zu erstatten.
We’re going to the police station to file a report there.
Wir gehen zur Polizei, um dort eine Anzeige zu erstatten.
We’re going to the police station to file a report there.
