- Muizenberg police is under the helm of a new station commander.
- Two weeks into her new role and Col Jacqui Johnson says she will focus on several key issues including corruption, illegal shebeens, the drug trade and partner policing.
- With an illustrious career that began in 1988, and spans over 36 years, she says she never chose to be in the police service but the profession chose her.
“Where there is corruption to root out, there will be zero tolerance as the commander here.”
Muizenberg police is under the helm of a new station commander.
Two weeks into her new role and Col Jacqui Johnson says she will focus on several key issues including corruption, illegal shebeens, the drug trade and partner policing.
In the past few years, Muizenberg police had its fair share of challenges which included being stripped of its top management due to allegations and charges of extortion and common assault, to name a few.
According to Johnson, Muizenberg police has a strong team of good people and good officers.
“I find that we have a strong team and I am looking forward to working with the community; there is nothing we can’t do together.”
Col Johnson, who hails from Ocean View, was promoted to the rank of Colonel on Friday 1 September before taking up the reigns as station commander on Tuesday 26 September.
With an illustrious career that began in 1988, and spans over 36 years, she says she never chose to be in the police service but the profession chose her.
“When I joined the police service it wasn’t actually a desire.
“In 1986 I completed my matric and some of my friends said they wanted to join but I said no.”
After some persuasion from her friends, Johnson was accepted at the police academy in Bishop Lavis in 1988.
“I am still in the police service and none of them are. I believe that it is a calling and that God has called me into this position because I am passionate about people and helping people.”
Her vision, as the new commander, is a safe and secure policing precinct in collaboration with community partnerships to achieve success in the fight against crime.
“I will be zoning in on drugs and illegal shebeens and outlets as a lot of crime stems from that.
“Another focus area is that I noticed that rape cases are high in the area. Some of the rapes are in informal settlements, so these are some of the things we need to address together as police and the community to look at preventative measures.
“We also need to equip our young people so that they take ownership of their behaviour.”
Having worked at various police stations including Athlone, Fish Hoek, Ocean View, Simon’s Town and Woodstock the colonel aims to improve service delivery at the Community Service Centre (CSC) and build a relationship of trust between police and the community.
“I have met with the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and there’s also a strong Community in Blue presence.
“I’m also looking at projects at schools that will address the youth and improve partnerships with our existing partners.”
