Smart policing, greater collaboration with the well-resourced private security sector and more public engagements are some of the arsenals Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) Chief David Tembe hopes to deploy to reduce crime and grime in Jozi.
Addressing Business, Community Policing Forums, and Residents Associations in Region E, Sandton last night, 17 April 2018, Chief Tembe took the audience on his career journey; first as a paramedic before switching to nabbing speeding motorists as a Metro Police Officer. This was before he established an award-winning search and rescue unit that did duty in diverse places like Algeria and Iran.
“In 2003, I was asked to assist at JMPD, and then I got hooked into policing. From dealing with IV therapies and treating patients and being a hero, I started afresh. Fire fighters and paramedics are heroes. No, no, no, I am not saying Metro Police Officers are not heroes. They also save lives on the road,” said Chief Tembe.
During his earliest tenure there, the JMPD won a service excellence award in 2008. He left on a high in 2011 to establish the National Traffic Police and started getting involved in officer training in US states like Memphis, Charlotte, and Virginia.
Chief Tembe told the audience that in order to win the war against crime and lawlessness, the JMPD needed to harness technology, strengthen relations with private security companies, and build stronger partnerships with the community.
“As the JMPD, we need to work with the private security sector and become a force multiplier. Private security firms know the areas better because they patrol them and we need to integrate our command centres."
Chief Tembe said private security firms boast better training, continuous refresher courses, better machinery, and all round great resources that could also be shared with the JMPD in its fight against crime in the City. He said this after representatives of private security firms offered their services to the City for free in order to bring crime levels down. The Regional Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairpersons also urged the JMPD to attend CPF meetings regularly.
Sandton business people also complained about minibus taxis and e-hailing cabs like Uber and Taxify. Chief Tembe promised to enforce bylaws in and around the Sandton CBD to ensure commuter safety.
Chief Tembe said JMPD has already deployed four cars that had on-board cameras to pick up fine defaulters, wanted criminals and stolen vehicles and he was expanding six more before the end of the year.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Major-General Deliwe de Lange inaugurated Chief Tembe at the Nasrec Showgrounds amid pomp and ceremony on Tuesday, 6 March 2018.
“I’m still new in my job, but there has been steady progress. We have impounded 76 trucks that were caught for illegal dumping. Instead of issuing fines, most of the trucks were not roadworthy and we have taken them off the road. About 60 bikes have been positioned on the freeway to curb the scourge of driving on the emergency lane,” Chief Tembe said.
He has urged motorists to stop giving Metro Police Officers “cold drinks,” saying this eroded all the good way that was being done to renew and inspire a quality police force.
