Swimming upstream against a torrent of challenges, the quest to make the uniform synonymous with safety is battling onwards.
Initiated by Florida Police station commander, Colonel Amos Tsotetsi, a congregation of the area’s security forces teamed up for what the new leader believes will send a strong message to criminal elements. Florida Community Policing Forum, neighbourhood watches, private security companies and uniformed authorities all accepted Colonel Tsotetsi’s invitation to participate in this proactive campaign.
Not even a station closed for decontamination could deter a force dedicated to bringing criminality to its knees. For any suspects who felt they could not be detained because of the closed station were sorely mistaken, as provisions were made to temporarily hold any relevant perpetrators at Randburg Police Station. Colonel Tsotetsi’s ‘partnership in policing’ strategy is paying dividends in results and community involvement.
The visibility patrols will be weekly occurrences and will target random hotspots on any given operation day. The streets around Discoverers Clinic, the park adjacent Florida Library, problematic areas of Goldman Street identified by crime intelligence, and sections of Fleurhof were all on the programme for the July 2 sting.
While no serious arrests were made, multiple contraband items were confiscated, with one Okapi knife and 110 grams of marijuana among the most significant. Additionally, three bottles of alcohol were confiscated from those consuming in public, and an identification card and driver’s licence belonging to people other than those carrying them were also confiscated.
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) chipped in by issuing several fines, including three for expired licence discs and two for failing to properly stop at a stop sign. “It is not always about making big arrests but showing the criminals that we are here and we are watching,” said the Colonel, reiterating his belief that with strong community involvement and an alert policing service, the area’s criminals will submit to the badge.
