A feel good story

Chris Hoöman from Pretoria wrote:

When we open the majority of newspapers today 90% of the time (when it comes to our police services) you read about people’s bad experiences they have had in this regard.

I want to take the time today to let everyone, that will take the time to read this, know about an experience my wife and I had at Garsfontein Police Station. (It was Friday morning 10/04/2015 at 9.00.)

Yes I know, the first reaction will most probably be “oh no,” no experience at a police station can be good. WRONG, here is my story.

My wife (Petra) and I (Chris Hoöman) went to the police station to hand in my application for a new fire arm licence (and at the same time for a temporary fire arm permit). When we got directed upstairs to the first floor where the fire arm office is, there was only one thought in my mind “ Don’t expect anything, no friendliness, etc, just do your stuff and get out”.

We saw the office was full of people, waiting to be helped. We decided to stay outside and wait in the corridor.

SHOCK NO 1: While standing outside, a lady (which we later met, Faith) stood up from behind her desk, came to us, welcomed us with a smile and offered us a seat inside her office. Wow, we could not believe this, what a friendly person, taking the time to make this a pleasant experience. When it was our turn, she invited me to take a seat in front of her, and when handing my documents over I was 100% convinced that all my paperwork was in place. She took the documents, browsed through them very professionally, and to my dismay, pointed out to me that there were various documents not in the pack. She explained to me I needed to first fill in all the documents before we can proceed.

My shoulders slumped, my heart sunk to my knees, thinking “here we go again, she is obviously going to tell me to get the documents, fill it in and come back”

SHOCK NO 2: “Mr Hoöman” she said, “sit back, let me get all the documents together for you. I will help you complete them and let’s get your application sorted out.” Not only did she get all the documents together, she even had to make copies (22 to be exact) but she made sure every document is filled in correctly and to the required standard. When this was done, she asked me to go downstairs and ask someone in the charge office to assist with finger prints (she was alone in her office and had other people waiting to be attended to).

I had no problem with this, as I could see she was very busy and it would help if someone else could do the finger prints.

After about 20 minutes, the queue in the charge office moving very slowly, she came down from her office to see how I was doing!!

SHOCK NO 3: Instead of just looking at the situation and go back upstairs, her reaction was the following: she made a “deal” with her colleques to help them with the queue if one of them can please assist her client (me). She immediately jumped in and started helping people in the queue. Even though I had to wait at least another 10-15 minutes, she just kept on smiling, helping customers, keeping her end of the bargain.

When I eventually got assisted with my fingerprints, she took me upstairs and finalized all the adminitrative details on my application.

In all of this, she did not once stop smiling, was always helpful, always professional, making this one of the best experiences I will always remember when thinking of a police station.

Faith is an absolute amazing women, what a difference it will make if we have more of her calibre in our police force. I just hope she gets the recognition she deserves as she should definitely be seen as a role model in the police force.

WELL DONE FAITH, you are an absolute STAR!!!