Edvard Raab
1841-1901.
Chief of police, baron, alderman.
Edvard Raab became Chief Constable of Uppsala in 1879 and died in office.
His fame, which reached far beyond the borders of Uppsala, was not so much based on his police work as on Raab's linguistic quirks and mental aberrations. Albert Engström immortalized Raab through many stories and drawings in the magazine Strix.
Much of what this Chief Constable Raab is said to have authored has obviously been corrected by others. However, there are ordinances and decrees from his pen, which demonstrate the peculiarity.
For example, it was laid down in a street regulation:
"When new snow falls, the old snow must be removed first".
A crime scene investigation stated: 'Judging by the size of the hole in the floorboard, the burglars appeared to have been only one in number'. The instructions for handling anonymous letters stated: "Anonymous letters shall be returned unopened to the sender".
Edvard Raab, who was described as honest, good and charitable, often wore his police chief's uniform. Raab was friendly, fatherly and popular among the students, despite the fact that they occasionally spent nights in the cells.
In the foreground to the right, Chief Constable Raab, behind him Constable Sandgren, at Uppsala Cathedral on the occasion of the three hundredth anniversary of the Uppsala meeting, Jubelfesten 1893. Photographer: Heinrich Osti / UUB.
Police force XII:5. Chief Constable Raab with his men at the Linneanum in the Botanical Gardens in Uppsala ca 1880-ca 1901. Several of the policemen's names are written on the back of the mounting sheet. Photographer: Alfred Dahlgren / UUB.
Burial site: 0116-0836
Image description: Edvard Raab, Uppsala 1882. Photo: Heinrich Osti / UUBThe image is cropped]
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