The value of crime fight relationships
The CPF, to their credit and despite enduring abhorrent abuse, did not retaliate and remained true to their undertaking
Last week’s disturbing incident when Richards Bay police officers, without good cause, failed to arrest a man who had run amok in public, and in so doing humiliated their civilian crime fighting partners, the Community Policing Forum (CPF), does not bode well for the delicate relationship of trust between the two parties.
Two police officers released an erratic, drunken and dangerous man apprehended by the CPF amidst a public crowd including women, children and pensioners. They even helped him and his co-perpetrators to leave the crime scene by push-starting their vehicle.
The unarmed CPF members, who subdued the man and called for backup, were treated with disdain.
The police not only failed to remove the man, whose erratic behaviour before and after his arrest posed public danger, they displayed a passivity which simply served to further erode the faith the public has in effective policing.
The CPF, to their credit and despite enduring abhorrent abuse, did not retaliate and remained true to their undertaking – to uphold law and order within the limitations of their mandate.
An elderly man, equally courageous and responsible, placed himself in harms way to try and calm down the suspect and stood his ground despite being unarmed and physically no match for the crazed man.
The paramedic attending to the suspect’s wounds continued with his work while being threatened, reviled and spat at in the face – because it is his duty.
By all accounts the only party seemingly not honouring its duty was the police at the scene.
Statistics prove that the noticeable dent in crime is largely as a result of the partnerships between the police, the CPFs and the community.
The public is expected to hold policemen and -women in high esteem.
Sadly it takes only one incident to damage the reputation of our police services, however unfair it may be.
For this reason we trust Richards Bay Station Commander Brigadier Brenda Mgenge and her senior personnel will move swiftly to ensure the true facts are investigated and action is taken so that the faith in our men and women in blue can be restored.
