Berlin police have dissolved a personal-protection command that had been deployed at the US Embassy in Berlin and have started disciplinary proceedings, a police spokesperson told the German Press Agency. The Bild newspaper had reported the case earlier.
The officers have been assigned to other parts of the personal-protection service, the spokesperson said. Protection of the person under guard is being provided temporarily by another command.
According to the report, the German bodyguards are alleged to have drunk alcohol while on duty at the US Embassy. The embassy gave no official comment when first asked.
Police said the matter is currently being examined under service law. Alcohol is generally forbidden for all Berlin police officers while on duty and can lead to disciplinary and employment-law consequences. An agency spokesperson said no further details could be given while that review continues.