We know the police that act against rioters. But the fact that agents also act literally sometimes leads to surprised reactions. Yet that is what musical cops and former cops do at Police Harmony East Brabant. This year the group of blowing and drumming agents even exists 75 years. “People often don’t know that we do more than just catch crooks.”
The harmony started in 1948 as the orchestra of the Eindhoven municipal police. “Wherever the municipality wanted to present itself, our band was deployed,” says former police officer John van Oorschot (65), who has been a member of the harmony for over 25 years. He plays euphonium. “From the arrival of Sinterklaas to the Eindhoven marathon.”
“Those were the old days,” adds Albert van Veldhoven (71). He was a detective for 45 years and, like John, has been playing in the police harmony for a quarter of a century. He plays the clarinet. Nowadays the orchestra also plays outside Eindhoven, such as at a commemoration in Kamp Vught and the provincial Remembrance Day. “We are the calling card of the police. As a result, you can play in very special places,” says Albert.
The harmony of more than fifty members consists of a third of current police officers, a third are retired and a third are police volunteers.
“Due to the huge staff shortage, members have to practice in their spare time.”
Harmony is not only on stage during difficult moments. The agents also grab the tools at the ribbon shower in Eindhoven or during the graduation ceremony of new agents in East Brabant.
Even though the performances sometimes run differently than planned. “Partly due to the enormous staff shortage within the police, the members of the harmony have to practice in their spare time. And with irregular police services, that is a challenge,” says Albert.
“Sometimes police band members unexpectedly have a shift and then they don’t have time to rehearse. Then we soon miss fifteen musicians,” he continues.
“It has already happened twice that PSV could become champion when we had a concert.”
And that also happens when there are concerts. “A large proportion of the officers in our force work for the Eindhoven police. It has already happened twice that PSV could become champion when we had a concert. Our agents were needed for enforcement in the city and then we had to cancel the concert,” says John. “For outsiders that is annoying, but the members of the harmony understand that like no other.”