Two months after Lt Col Cleo Arnoldus took the reins as the first female acting station commander at Grassy Park Police Station in January there has been another shake-up, with a new acting station commander appointed on Thursday 14 March.
In January, after close to 30 years in the police service, Arnoldus was appointed after former station commander Col Dawood Laing retired in December last year.
Originally from Lavender Hill, her achievements include recognition in the provincial police awards.
Grassy Park police spokesperson Capt Wynita Kleinsmith confirmed a new acting station commander took up duties at the station on Thursday.
With 32 years’ experience in the police service Lt Col Jacques Lourens, head of visible policing (VISPOL) at Muizenberg Police Station, is expected to oversee the Grassy Park Police Station until a new station commander is appointed in May.
Talking to People’s Post, Lourens explained he had taken the duties of acting station commander over while the vacancy for the commander position remained open.
“Former station commander Col Laing retired in December, which left the vacancy open, and it is currently being advertised.
“Before a new station commander is appointed from 1 May I have temporarily stepped in. There are a few station commander appointments that are expected to be made before the elections in May.”
After serving 20 years at Hout Bay Police Station, before moving to Muizenberg Police Station in 2020, Lourens comes with a wealth of experience.
“I was in Hout Bay from 2000 until 2020, and then during Covid, I moved to Muizenberg, where I was appointed Vispol commander.”
Lourens said his main focus area, while stationed in Grassy Park, is gangsterism as well as vulnerable people – women, the elderly and children.
“My focus areas are gangsterism, the vulnerable as well as bullying and drugs at schools.
“There are several gangs and there’s a lot of drug abuse in the area.”
“Parkwood, Gassy Park, Steenberg and Muizenberg police precincts are where gangsterism and illegal firearms are rife.
“When listening to residents’ concerns, particularly when gunshots are heard at night, one wonders where the firearms are coming from, because they are certainly not legal.”
Lourens praised the Grassy Park Police Station officers as “hard working”.
