In a festive setting, the Ministry of the Interior of the state of NRW honored the most successful police athletes of 2024 at the LAFP NRW in Selm on 11 April 2025. The LAFP NRW hosted the event together with the Police Sports Board NRW.
Minister of the Interior Herbert Reul, together with Lothar Sandkühler, deputy head of the LAFP NRW, presented 14 selected athletes from a wide variety of sports with a certificate for their outstanding achievements in 2024.
Highlights of the awards
The following award winners were also delighted with the annual awards in the four main categories:
- Police Sports Club of the Year was PSV Wuppertal 1921 e. V. The award was accepted by 2nd Chairwoman Corina Lange (PP Wuppertal). The club impressed with its long-standing commitment to children's and youth sports as well as its social activities such as self-assertion courses for women, swimming courses for Muslim women and vacation camps for children. The club also played a key role in organizing the 2024 National Police Swimming Championships in Wuppertal.
- The 2024 Police Sportswoman of the Year is Sophia Elisa Schmidt (PP Cologne). She won the gold medal at the German Whitewater Canoe Racing Championships in the performance class with a top time of 18:43.44 minutes.
- Police Athlete of the Year 2024 is Peter Zaar (PP Cologne). He not only impressed at the German WAKO Kickboxing Championships, but also won gold at the European Championships and the World Cup in Italy.
- Police Team of the Year 2024 was the NRW women's football team. The team remained unbeaten at the German Police Championship in Selm. After two commanding preliminary round victories of 6:0 each, they won the final 3:0. The award was accepted by soccer officer Detlef Luchtenveld (Dortmund PP), coach Diana Werner (Rhein-Erft-Kreis LR) and team captain Sinah Lütke-Harmölle (Steinfurt LR).
Recognition for exceptional achievements
In his speech, Herbert Reul not only praised the sporting successes, but also the role model function and commitment of the police athletes in terms of team spirit, discipline and social cohesion. In his speech, Lothar Sandkühler also emphasized the sporting commitment of the colleagues, which they perform in addition to their daily police service.
Accompanied by an atmospheric music program by the jazz-rock-pop band of the NRW State Police Orchestra, the event offered further emotional highlights. Singer Ciara Ehren from the Krefeld police department gave goosebumps with her interpretation of Tina Turner's "The Best", while the state karate group and the state gymnastics team of the NRW police provided thrills with their spectacular performances.