“Black Sheriff”: Origin and political metaphor explained
When the press refers to a "Black Sheriff," it's rarely a real person in uniform. Rather, the phrase represents a specific understanding of politics: uncompromising and decisive. It refers to individuals who respond to crime, migration, or internal security with tough measures. The term conjures up law-and-order rhetoric and sends a clear message: This is where things are being cleaned up.
The term originated in Munich. More precisely, it appears to have originated from the security company Ziviler Sicherheitsdienst (ZSD), founded by Carl Wiedmeier in the 1970s. A name that for decades stood for a very unique understanding of security in Bavaria. Uniformed guards in black leather jackets, with caps, badges, and a martial demeanor. They deliberately portrayed themselves as American cops.
Wiedmeier, a martial artist and entrepreneur, recruited his security guards directly from his martial arts schools. Karate, judo, kenjitsu – on paper, they were appropriately trained. In practice, they were often over-motivated. Former Munich police chief Manfred Schreiber spoke of the "cowboy-like demeanor" and criticized the "pseudo-police appearance," as " Der Spiegel " reported in 1975. But that was precisely what garnered the ZSD attention – and contracts.
“Black Sheriff” in front of the ZSD headquarters in the Olympic Park in Munich.
Source: IMAGO / HRSchulz
The "Black Sheriffs," as the security forces were then called, guarded the Olympic Village in Munich, the Isar I and II nuclear power plants, and patrolled the Munich subway. They were supposed to show their presence – and they did. Often, they went beyond the call of duty. As early as the 1980s, the ZSD came under fire for abuses . There were repeated reports of physical altercations, intimidation, and violence.
The "Black Sheriffs" didn't disappear from collective memory. On the contrary: The term became a metaphor for tough action, sometimes even excessive severity, and certainly for law-and-order policies. Today, it is an integral part of political and media language – usually used to describe politicians with a particularly tough stance on security issues.
This is probably what the new CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn had in mind when he praised CSU Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt for a more rigid border policy in an RND interview, declaring: "He is now Germany's black sheriff."
In the past, it was mostly journalists who applied the term to politicians, often conveying both criticism and recognition.
Political opponents also like to use this term to portray their competitors in a certain light. Anyone labeled a "Black Sheriff" is quickly suspected of using excessive power.
There are many prominent bearers of this label. Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) has repeatedly been called the "Black Sheriff" – especially when he made headlines with stricter police laws or deportation measures. Former politicians such as Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) and Manfred Kanther (CDU) have also received this label.
What remains is a term with two sides. On the one hand, it conveys the image of a resolute law enforcement officer. On the other, it warns against a concept of security that pushes boundaries. The "Black Sheriff" has become a political metaphor – with a clear message and a long shadow.
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