The saying goes, “if you want something done right do it yourself”, and this is exactly the motto Rodger Schrickker (61) has lived by for the past 20 years as he devoted his time to his community.
The Woodstock resident has been a police reservist for the past two decades and served on local neighbourhood watches with one goal in mind: fighting crime.
Schrickker, who is a traffic officer by trade, will be retiring as a police reservist and focus on his daytime job.
On Saturday 20 August members of the Woodstock police, community policing forum (CPF) residents and neighbourhood watches came together to honour Schrickker for his “devotion and commitment” during a ceremony held at the Holy Cross Hall in District 6.
Gary Adams, chair of U Watch Neighbourhood Watch, says: “We decided to honour him for the excellent work and service that he rendered in the community over the past 20 years. He has worked with neighbourhood watches. He did all this without remuneration.”
Adams says Schrickker is a community hero and champion.
“We are thankful and grateful for having a deeply committed crime fighter that stood alongside the neighbourhood watches and guided us. He was a peace officer. We want to wish him well and he should enjoy his twilight years.”
Schrickker says he became a police reservist because a friend recommended him.
“I had a friend who was a police officer and he asked me to join as a reservist. So I decided to do it. It was a six-month course which I completed. That was 20 years ago. I never looked back.”
The single father says he is passionate about safeguarding the community from criminals.
“I just have a passion for crime fighting. You can’t just complain about things happening in the community, but you are not doing anything.
“I am now finished with the police, but I will still be involved with the neighbourhood watch. You have to do something for your area.”
Schrickker says the job did not come without challenges. Eight years ago he was hospitalised after he was shot whilst out on patrol.
“I was shot while executing an arrest. That was a few years ago. I was shot in my upper leg and was hospitalised. They had to insert a plate into my leg. I was out of action for about three months. But after that I went back to perform my duties.”
Schrickker explains that drug abuse, theft out of motor vehicles and house breakings are some of the many challenges the area is faced with.
Issues he won’t be turning a blind eye to now that he has retired, because according to him, he will still be involved and assist crime fighters where he can.
“I have been working with the community for a long time. I was part of the neighbourhood watch in Salt River and Woodstock. So, I will be there to assist.”
Schrickker says he feels honoured that the community acknowledged his efforts and vowed to continue the fight for a safer community.
