GROWING up in Wentworth, when Richard Blood saw how proud parents were when their children joined the police force, he became inspired to follow in their footsteps.
Blood candidly admits that he came from a poor background and he didn’t like seeing what was happening in the community. “I wanted to become a cop so I could make a difference,” he said.
When he finished school he applied to join the police force many times but luck was not on his side. He was working in customer services at the Airports Company when he met a Brigadier who was so impressed with the way he worked that he told Blood he would make a fine policeman.
ALSO READ: Teamwork conquers crime, says Berea SAPS
“He asked for my details and said he would let me know when the next application was opening. I was accepted and did my training and my first placement was at Brighton Beach as a constable. I really wanted to go far in the force, I didn’t want to just be a constable and I was determined to work hard,” he said.
Hard work ensured that he moved swiftly up the ranks, and he reached the rank of Captain in his first eight years on the force. He moved to Newlands in 2009 and was promoted to Superintendent in 2011. During his time at Newlands, his team brought the crime down and the station received accolades as best performing station in the country three times.
ALSO READ: Oversight visit to Berea SAPS reveals under-resourced service
Lt Col Blood was transferred to Berea SAPS in September as the new visible policing commander, and is committed to reducing the crime in the area.
“I love my job and I hate missing work. I love serving the community, I love people, and being on the streets doing field work is my passion, although my rank now restricts this. Given any opportunity, I am out there. My goal is to minimise crime in the Berea policing area. The stats didn’t reflect well and we are putting strategies in place, although there are a lot of stumbling blocks with movement of staff. We have to beef up policing in the area where there are a lot of cases of theft of motor vehicle and property crime. It is our duty to ensure the safety and security of the community,” he said.
Blood encouraged people to get on board, to attend sector meetings and join the reservists, to help assist the police.
“I am confident by working together we can bring crime down,” he said.
He said besides his work as a policeman, he is a keen hunter and is into kickboxing and MMA. He has four children, three sons and a daughter, who he says he hopes to inspire.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
