Motorist unhappy with EMPD officer

There was a queue at the second traffic light and I discovered there was a race being run which crossed the road.

There were no signs or warnings to indicate that this was going on, nor that motorists should avoid this intersection.

Metro police were present to assist the race marshals and it is these officers, one in particular, I would like to mention.

Traffic was held up and people were understandably frustrated as the officers were making no effort to assist the motorists.

One motorist tried to go when there was a wide gap and the officer spent so much time shouting at and abusing this motorist that he did not allow anyone to go.

Those that did try to go were then threatened with arrest and verbally abused by the officer.

I was one of those verbally abused and threatened with arrest.

I asked the officer for his badge number and was told I am going to be arrested if I try to report him.

The officer then refused to allow anyone to cross the intersection even when there was a reasonable gap and told motorists they must make a U-turn.

I feel that this was just a petulant response by a policeman who was more interested in showing that he was in charge than actually helping the situation.

I have had similar experiences with the police in the past and complaints to actual police supervisors are never actually dealt with and follow ups are impossible.

The police are supposed to be servants of the people and their authority should be respected, but when they forget to show respect to the people they serve, which I feel is increasingly the case, then there is a serious problem.

My faith in the law enforcement community has been seriously eroded by officers such as this one.

NICHOLAS DIETRICH, EDENVALE.

Letter received March 10

EDITOR’S COMMENT – The letter was sent to spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago for comment on March 10 and comment was requested by March 14.

No comment has been received.