Trollip looks forward to exploring SA and Namibia
"I want to take my time and enjoy myself as I travel."
Edenvale SAPS station commander, Colonel Eddie Trollip, announced his retirement last week after 37 years in police service.
It has since been announced that former head of Edenvale Crime Prevention, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, will take over as acting station commander.
Serving the community is not something everyone can do or has the passion to do. Col Trollip (57) has been the station commander at the Edenvale SAPS for the past three years.
Col Trollip was moved to the Edenvale station from Ivory Park after the Edenvale station lost a lot of key personnel when a new Tembisa station was opened.
“The structure of the station had to be rebuilt from the ground up,” said Col Trollip.
Even though it was not his first post as a station commander, Col Trollip had to hit the ground running at the Edenvale station.
Col Trollip said that officers had to learn how to work together.
“One of my highlights at Edenvale was the year of 2015. We had our lowest crime stats that year and great community involvement.
“The community was involved in crime-fighting. The community must continue to stand together. The police will respond positively if the community is positive,” said Col Trollip.
He said that the community must not be swayed by people with hidden agendas.
“While working as a police officer I really enjoyed the comradeship and the special bond that officers share with each other,” said Col Trollip.
He said that he had developed his interest in police work when he was in high school as the idea of action, protecting the community and the adrenaline seemed exciting to him.
During his 37 years of serving the public, Col Trollip also spent time in an aeroplane anti-hijacking unit.
“I got to travel a lot. I really enjoyed that,” said Col Trollip.
“As a police officer you don’t get a lot of time off to yourself,” he shared. “I can’t remember the last time I was off during the festive season. I am going to enjoy that now.”
He added that he plans to reignite his passion for travel. “I want to take my time and enjoy myself as I travel across South Africa and Namibia.”
