Uster parliament weighs inquiry into police affair

Uster’s city parliament will decide on Monday whether to establish a parliamentary inquiry commission into the police affair, SRF reported. The case involves questionable invoices, allegations of poor management culture and suspected abuse of office.

Invoices were split up so they would not have to be submitted to the city executive. Authorities initially acknowledged breaches of financial powers amounting to around 500,000 Swiss francs. According to leaked investigation reports, the total may be at least 774,000 francs.

The money was not used for personal enrichment. It paid, among other things, for a police car, barriers for the city festival and new uniforms for police officers. Media reports said almost 250,000 francs went towards police operational trousers.

The police commander responsible was dismissed in the spring after Uster’s city executive withdrew its confidence in him. City councillor Beatrice Caviezel of the Green Liberal Party, who was responsible for security, is also alleged to have been involved by approving split invoices.

The city executive temporarily removed Caviezel from political responsibility for security. She remains responsible for public services as well as law and enforcement. Enrico Quattrini, head of the security department, will leave his position in mid-September 2026.

The city executive has commissioned two external investigations, in agreement with Caviezel. Auditing and consulting firm BDO will examine the department’s finances, procedures and rules. Bruno Keller, a former commander of the Zurich cantonal police, will investigate the management culture in the security department and make recommendations to the city executive.

In mid-August, the city executive said it and the municipal council had filed a criminal complaint. The complaint was not directed at possible people responsible for the affair, but at unknown individuals suspected of leaking confidential documents to the media. The city executive said it suspected breaches of official secrecy and confidentiality obligations.

The public services and security commission is also conducting an internal investigation. Two of its nine members have recused themselves because they received anonymous letters and are therefore considered directly affected under the municipal law.

The letters, written by an unknown sender, were sent to various people in Uster over the past two years. Some were posted in official city envelopes. It remains unclear whether they are connected to the police affair.

The affair has fuelled mistrust in Uster’s parliament. Daniel Schneider of the Swiss People’s Party is calling for a parliamentary inquiry commission, saying the events in the security department require an independent and comprehensive investigation into leadership, oversight and responsibility. The city parliament will decide on the proposal on Monday.