Uster police scandal: City councillor Caviezel relinquishes security portfolio, SVP and EDU call for parliamentary inquiry commission
GLP city councillor Beatrice Caviezel is stepping down from her responsibility for the Uster city police security department. SVP and EDU are demanding a parliamentary inquiry commission.
Caviezel relinquishes security portfolio – investigations expanded
Following the discovery of systematic invoice manipulation at Uster city police, the scandal has triggered further political consequences. According to 20 Minuten, GLP city councillor Beatrice Caviezel is immediately stepping down from leadership of the security department – she had personally signed several of the manipulated, split invoices.
Over many years, Uster city police bypassed the requirement for approval by political superiors by splitting invoice amounts. Items affected include protective equipment worth approximately 250,000 francs, a BMW SUV for 197,000 francs, and mobile road barriers for 154,000 francs. The total damage amounts to at least 774,000 francs. The practices had previously been made public by the NZZ. Former police commander Andreas Baumgartner had already been forced to leave the city police in March due to a "loss of confidence".
According to a city statement, Caviezel explained that with this step she wanted to "contribute" to an "independent investigation of the incidents". City councillor Petra Bättig will temporarily assume responsibility for the security business area.
In parallel, the city council has initiated two external investigations: Bruno Keller, the former commander of the Zurich cantonal police, is to analyse the operational culture of the security department and submit improvement proposals. The auditing firm BDO has additionally been tasked with a comprehensive review of finances, processes and internal regulations.
The SVP/EDU parliamentary group considers these measures insufficient. The group accuses the entire city council of having known about the scandal before the April 2026 elections and failing to act nonetheless. They are therefore demanding a parliamentary inquiry commission (PUK). The municipal council will address the corresponding motion on Monday next.
Source: 20 Minuten