Police together with clergymen have joined hands to recognise cops’ good work in Mitchells Plain.
Members of the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum, top cops Major-General Jeremy Vearey, Major-General Johan Brand and Brigadier Cass Goolam together with the Mitchells Plain Pastor’s Forum and Western Cape Concerned Clergy, awarded four policemen with certificates on Wednesday at the Baptist Church in Beacon Valley.
Ashley Potts, the deputy chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum, says they are now calling on the community to nominate good and dedicated cops in the Mitchells Plain area who will receive the reward - a certificate and a R500 voucher - each month.
On Wednesday night, Captain Harry Brickles, who is the Inspector Commander at Mitchells Plain SAPS; Captain Leon Jooste; and patrol police officers, Constable Enrico Hoffman and Sergeant Courtney Smith were honoured for their hard work.
“The clergy contacted us a few weeks ago and called for a working relationship to be built between them and police and not just the church being an entity on its own,” Potts explains.
He says the “Award a Cop” initiative will allow members of the public and structures like the church to nominate officers who do outstanding work in their communities.
“Captain Harry Brickles is an outstanding police officers who has been serving the community for years. Captain Leon Jooste, one of the inspector commanders and Constable Enrico Hoffman and Sergeant Courtney Smith, who are patrol cops, work on the streets in the community. This is also to take away the negativity, to say that there are good cops out there.
“It is also for these police officers to feel that they are being honoured because it is a job where not a lot of thanks is given,” Potts says.
Pastor Mark Bloemstein, chairman of Mitchells Plain Pastor’s Forum and General Secretary of the Western Cape Concerned Clergy, says they have renewed their relationship with police.
“Police have revived their commitment with the church and are working with the churches,” he says.
To nominate a good cop, contact Potts on 082 887 6440.