Uster city council approves extra pay amid police scandal

Following a police scandal in Uster, Switzerland, involving allegations of split invoices to bypass political oversight and potential breaches of official secrecy, the city council has adjusted administrative responsibilities and compensation.

Beatrice Caviezel (GLP), the head of security, had her security dossier removed in August due to the ongoing investigation. While she remains a city councillor, she is currently prohibited from entering the police station during the investigation. Despite the reduction in her responsibilities, the city administration stated there is no legal basis to reduce her current compensation.

In response to the vacancy, Petra Bättig (FDP) has taken over interim responsibility for the security sector in addition to her existing duties. The Uster city council has approved an additional compensation of approximately 13,926 CHF for Bättig to cover this extra workload through the end of 2026. This amount will be added to her existing annual compensation of 94,550 CHF for her 45 percent mandate.