Thorleif Karlsen
Encyclopedia
Thorleif Oscar Karlsen was a Norwegian police inspector, who also became known through the radio program Trafikk og musikk.
He was born in Stavanger
, to which his parents had moved in the same year. He was hired as a police officer in 1930. He worked in Stavanger from 1930 to 1932, for Statspolitiet in Oslo
from 1932 to 1937 and then in Stavanger again from 1938. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
he was arrested in February 1941 for "anti-German propaganda". He was imprisoned at Møllergata 19
from 26 February to 22 March, then at Åneby concentration camp until 16 April. He was freed, but was later arrested again during a crackdown on the police , and was imprisoned at Grini concentration camp from March 1943 to January 1944. After being released again, he was even arrested for a third time, and sat at Møllergata 19 from October 1944 to the war's end in May 1945
. He has speculated that the reason for him not being sent to a German concentration camp, was that his father co-founded Nasjonal Samling.
After World War II he continued as a police officer. He was also a member of Stavanger city council from 1947 to 1955, representing the Labour Party
. In 1954 he became the first non-jurist to serve as police inspector in the city Oslo
. The appointment of a non-jurist was controversial, and was even debated in the Parliament of Norway. He led the traffic police department in Oslo, and held the position until 1979. He became nationally known as permanent guest in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation radio program Trafikk og musikk hosted by Oddvar Folkestad which aired every Saturday afternoon between 1960 and 1980. He was one of the founders of Trygg Trafikk. In 1982 he was hired as a columnist in Stavanger Aftenblad
.
Karlsen died on 31 January 2010 in Stavanger. He was married for the most of his life, had five children and twelve grandchildren. He was also a Freemason
and a member of the International Organisation of Good Templars
, and from 1978 to 1983 he was a board member of the International Abstaining Motorists Association. He has been decorated with the King's Medal of Merit, and appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
, a Knight of the Order of Vasa
and a Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland
.
He was born in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, to which his parents had moved in the same year. He was hired as a police officer in 1930. He worked in Stavanger from 1930 to 1932, for Statspolitiet in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
from 1932 to 1937 and then in Stavanger again from 1938. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
he was arrested in February 1941 for "anti-German propaganda". He was imprisoned at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
from 26 February to 22 March, then at Åneby concentration camp until 16 April. He was freed, but was later arrested again during a crackdown on the police , and was imprisoned at Grini concentration camp from March 1943 to January 1944. After being released again, he was even arrested for a third time, and sat at Møllergata 19 from October 1944 to the war's end in May 1945
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
. He has speculated that the reason for him not being sent to a German concentration camp, was that his father co-founded Nasjonal Samling.
After World War II he continued as a police officer. He was also a member of Stavanger city council from 1947 to 1955, representing the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. In 1954 he became the first non-jurist to serve as police inspector in the city Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. The appointment of a non-jurist was controversial, and was even debated in the Parliament of Norway. He led the traffic police department in Oslo, and held the position until 1979. He became nationally known as permanent guest in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation radio program Trafikk og musikk hosted by Oddvar Folkestad which aired every Saturday afternoon between 1960 and 1980. He was one of the founders of Trygg Trafikk. In 1982 he was hired as a columnist in Stavanger Aftenblad
Stavanger Aftenblad
Stavanger Aftenblad or simply Aftenbladet is a daily newspaper in Stavanger, Norway. It was founded in 1893 by the priest Lars Oftedal, and was for a long period a publication for the Liberal Party. It had a circulation of 68,186 copies in 2005...
.
Karlsen died on 31 January 2010 in Stavanger. He was married for the most of his life, had five children and twelve grandchildren. He was also a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and a member of the International Organisation of Good Templars
International Organisation of Good Templars
The IOGT International is an international non-governmental organisation working in the field of temperance...
, and from 1978 to 1983 he was a board member of the International Abstaining Motorists Association. He has been decorated with the King's Medal of Merit, and appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
, a Knight of the Order of Vasa
Order of Vasa
The Royal Order of Vasa was a Swedish Royal order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III of Sweden...
and a Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Order of the Lion of Finland
There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland . The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a...
.