Mixed feelings for career policeman as he retires

A 38-year veteran of the police service, most of it spent at the fingerprint division in Port Shepstone, Bluett Roberson’s last day at work is March 31.

The men and women in blue are plentiful in the Roberson family with uncles and cousins who have accumulated a combined service of 286 years.

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“I was about 12 or 13 when I decided I would be doing something good by joining the police,” said Mr Roberson.

After police college in 1982, he was posted to Cape Town at the Special Guard Unit mandated to protect ministers and other dignitaries.

However, after a year he decided that he had not joined the police for that purpose, so he transferred to Bloemfontein and joined the flying squad.

In 1986, Mr Roberson joined the detectives in the fraud unit. However, he was drawn to the fingerprint division in 1994. “The work was challenging and rewarding.”

He recalled a case where a policeman shot some of his colleagues at a police barracks. “I spent about eight or nine hours collecting evidence – forensics, fingerprints and ballistics. It’s difficult when a case involves one of your own because we are all part of a big family,” he said.

In 1997, Mr Roberson transferred to Port Shepstone Saps and settled in the area with his family.

In 1999/2000 he was praised by a judge for his role in solving the murder of an elderly woman in Uvongo. “There was no evidence, except a single fingerprint on a window which led to the perpetrator being sentenced to life,” he said.

Of all crime scenes, Mr Roberson finds it most difficult to attend rape scenes because of the added trauma experienced by the victims.

He also said he has the biggest respect for minister of police Bheki Cele. “I was at a crime scene when he came up to me and said keep up the good work.”

Over the years, he has also been involved in training the younger generation.

On retirement, he says it is with mixed feelings that he is leaving his work family.

However, with extra time on his hands, he intends to take things easy and tackle odd jobs around his home in Uvongo.

“I thank my wife Elsa and children who had to put up with me working late nights and weekends, my commander Lieutenant-Colonel Jan Hills for all he has done for me and the department and God for keeping me sane,” said Mr Roberson.

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