Quick-chat with Sebenza SAPS station commander
"I joined the police in 1992 because I always had a passion for the job and when I joined, it was not by accident."
The Sebenza SAPS station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Toohey, always found firearms fascinating and growing up as a tomboy made it easier for her to join the police service.
The NEWS visited her last week to find out what makes her tick.
Although she doesn’t look a day older than 40, she has been in the police service for 24 years.
Born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, Lt Col Toohey said joining the SAPS was no mistake and even though there was no one in the SAPS in her family, she knew from an early age that she would be a police officer.
“I joined the police in 1992 because I always had a passion for the job and when I joined, it was not by accident. I was transferred from the Norkem Park SAPS to the Sebenza SAPS in 2010,” said Lt Col Toohey.
Her passion lies in working with the community. She enjoys working with the community and helping residents to the best of her abilities. Asked what can be done to change the perceptions of the public towards the police, she said police members need to change their mindset.
“For me it has to start at the front-line. The initiative that we are busy with is our front-line service delivery where our members have to be more friendly and accommodating so that when community members walk in, they feel at ease and see that someone is ready and willing to assist them. I am passionate about helping the community. I want them to be willing to come in here for help because ultimately, we are here for them and to assist where we can,” said Lt Col Toohey.
As a station commander, her day is never without activity because when she arrives at the station, she meets with the team and holds meetings before patrolling the area. When she joined the station in 2010, the common crimes in the Sebenza area were business break-ins, but there has been a change since then.
“Business break-ins and house break-ins were common in this area when I joined the Sebenza SAPS,” said Lt Col Toohey.
She said building their relationship with the community and working together with the Security Forum and the Business Forum has seen such crimes decreasing in the area.
“Our working relationship with the CPF has also shown tremendous changes in crime in the area.
Lt Col Toohey said she has no retirement plans anytime soon and still plans on serving and protecting the community. She urged community members to be vigilant as the festive season approaches.
“There will be police on the ground but the public needs to be careful and adhere to the rules while allowing the police to do their jobs. The SAPS and Metro Police will be out in full force doing their jobs,” said Lt Col Toohey.
