He diligently served as traffic officer for almost 40 years, but now he’s ready to pull over and spend much needed time with his family.
Richard Coleman joined the Traffic Services in January 1983 and during his career has mostly been involved in the specialised units within the service.
Coleman says: “There was someone that I knew that worked at the traffic department and he asked me to come for an interview. I went and this is how I became involved in the traffic service.”
In 1998 he joined the Cape Town Highway Patrol which consisted of 12 officers divided into two teams.
At that time Coleman was the second in command of the one unit and oversaw all VIP escorts of international sport teams, dignitaries and visiting heads of state. In August 2009, the Ghost Squad was formed, and he was assigned and spent many years within the unit.
But for the past few years Capetonians might have heard Coleman provide traffic updates, road closures or any traffic related incidents as he served in the role as of the media liaison officer for the city’s Traffic Services.
The Rondebosch resident says: “I worked in different sections in the technical unit. I worked on the speed team and then I went on to highway patrol and then the ghost squad. I was also an instructor at traffic college. There are so many things you learn about traffic and the flow of traffic.”
Coleman says the role did not come without challenges.
“The behaviour of drivers has changed a lot over the years. We had much more respect from the public on the roads.”
But he says it was also rewarding.
“I enjoyed my time in traffic working in all the different sections and doing the VIP escorts for visiting presidents to our country. My time as media liaison taught me much about how to communicate and it has been an extraordinary 39-year journey.”
On Friday 29 July, Coleman cleared his desk and says he is now looking forward to much needed family time with his wife, children and four grandchildren.
“I am looking forward to spending quality time with my family and doing some travelling. I am grateful to my family. They supported me, especially my wife, she was always supportive when it came to the difficult hours I worked,” explains Coleman.
JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security, says: “Mr Coleman is known to be a diligent and efficient officer, who can rightly be proud of his long career. While we will miss him within the department, we are happy to grant him some rest and relaxation after so many years of service to this city and its residents.”
