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
'die Polizei' and 'die Polizeiwache' can both mean the building you go to when you need help or want to file a report. 'die Polizeiwache' is more precise for this and is always a place. 'die Polizei', however, can also mean the whole state institution. When you are clearly talking about the building, 'Polizeiwache' is often clearer. In everyday language, people still also say: 'Ich gehe zur Polizei' (I'm going to the police station).
Mila wartet vor der Polizeiwache, weil sie ihren verlorenen Ausweis melden will.
Mila is waiting in front of the police station because she wants to report her lost ID.
Nach dem Diebstahl geht sie zur Polizei und macht eine Anzeige.
After the theft, she goes to the police station and files a report.