Colonel retires after 41 years of service
Colonel Dion Singh spent two decades passionately serving the communities of eThekwini in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and is now retiring to spend more time with his family and enjoying his hobbies.
THERE is a lot that one can do with 40 years, and for Colonel Dion Singh, he spent his two decades passionately serving the communities of eThekwini in the South African Police Service (SAPS), and not once did he ever call in sick. Tall in stature, Col Singh is a gentle giant, who looks nothing close to 60 years of age.
“My secret to keeping myself young is keeping fit. I have been waking up every day at 3 am for the past 41 years, to keep my body fit, because I believe one must stay fit for the course of their lives,” says Singh.
Col Singh has run 24 Comrades Marathons, with two green numbers and has played provincial volleyball for the SAPS. Singh was also a swimming instructor in the SAPS Training College, where he spent ten years.
Also read: Aweh! Find out what’s happening in Durban and surrounds this weekend
But that’s not even the tip of his impressive career – Col Singh was the station commander of Westville Police Station for ten years and spent 12 more years as a station commander at Wentworth Police Station.
“I ran these police stations like a business, and to keep the business afloat, my job was to keep the client happy, and my profit was seeing the reduction in crime in my community. I used my personal cellphone as a customer-care line, but I wanted to make sure that my stations provided the best service possible to the community,” added Singh.
A staunch catholic, Singh said it was important for him to be visible as a commander of a police station, so he would attend church in the communities he served to show people that the police are just like them and to emphasise that the police were there to serve them, not to intimidate them.
Also read: Durban beaches lose out on Blue Flag status
Understanding the needs of his people, Singh started a victim-friendly support centre that provided meals to victims of crime regularly. “This was important for me because being a police officer is my calling, and it came with having to provide and protect.”
He added that, “I wish all the young people who wish to join the police force do it out of love and passion for their country – for them to be patriotic in their uniforms, to serve with pride. Because the job is not without problems and extreme situations.”
With such an impressive career under his belt, Singh says he cannot wait to enjoy being at home with his wife, spending some time with his daughter and son-in-law and taking care of his gardens and orchards.
For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
