Life for the Police – A Chief Inspector abseils until he retires

At the age of 18, Friedrich Krafuss decided not to – like Grandpa, Dad and Co. – to stay in the Styrian community of 10,000 souls in Trofaiach and as a trained locksmith at Voest. He wanted to see more, he wanted to experience something different. “I just wanted to go to the police,” as Krafuss said in an interview with “Krone.” He was already athletic at the time, practiced judo and did not smoke. Even on land, he dreamed of a special unit like the Vega.

First contact with Vienna was “shock”
The first contact with Vienna was a shock to the Styrians, in whose city “there wasn’t even a traffic light,” he laughs. At the time, Krafuss certainly didn’t think he would stay with the police force forever. After two years on patrol in Hietzing and a short time in the war on drugs, he applied to Wega – and was promptly hired. The task force would never let him go. In 1989 he started officer training and later he was given the opportunity to train police officers himself.

Schwarzenegger, helicopters and mountain divers
Everything he’s done reads like every boy’s dream. Professional diver, rope technician, demolition expert, he has been able to fly thousands of missions in a helicopter or on a rope and climb the Austrian mountains. And all this far beyond the borders of the federal capital. In addition to the Viennese professional fire brigade and the rescue service, Krafuss also trained foreign organizations, for example from Bavaria, Hamburg and various international mountain guides in rope technique.

He guarded Arnold Schwarzenegger as a bodyguard at the funeral of Federal President Klestil and in 1997 tried to pull the dead from the wreckage of the “Dumbier”, which was pulled into the Freudenau power station, under the most difficult conditions.

Omofuma would change deportations forever
1999 was probably one of the most defining career moments for Krafuss. Strapped to his chair and taped to his mouth, Nigerian asylum seeker Marcus Omofuma died shortly before his 26th birthday under a deportation charter from Austria to Sofia. Krafuss was recalled from diving and summoned to a task force at the ministry. In retrospect, however, a blessing, says the chief inspector: “We created the regulations that still apply to deportations today.” His experience in close combat helped develop procedures in the aircraft “that any inspector can use.” Deportations are “the most difficult task for the police,” says Krafuss. And yet the 500 or so flights took him all over the world.

Dead colleagues – and rescued mountain comrades
Krafuss becomes sad when he thinks about June 14, 1993. He was one of the first on the scene when a perpetrator robbed a bank in Vienna-Döbling, shot a police officer and holed up with hostages in a children’s fashion store. A moment that still makes him think: “I saw the dead colleague and had to take him and put him on a stretcher”. An alpine exercise a few years ago on the Großer Priel was more fun. By chance, a climber was discovered hanging upside down in a harness. Krafuss: “If it weren’t for us, he would have died.” The survivor thanked him tearfully.

The family now looks forward to more time
However, Krafuss should not undergo a retirement shock. His Wega team said goodbye to him with nice presents, now his wife, three children and three grandchildren are waiting for him. A trip with his wife is already planned for September and Krafuss also wants to continue working as a diving instructor. “I really enjoyed my job”, the now retired chief inspector summarizes his professional career. He’s grateful, so Krafuss. With words that made him known to the director, he finally thanks his company: “Thanks Bude!”