Calling retired police officers

THE Association of Retired Police Officers was recently established to encourage former officers to get together to socialise and reminisce about the past.

According to Logan Govender from the Pietermaritzburg branch of the Association, over the years numerous retired police officers, usually gathering at a funeral of a former colleague, suggested the formation of an organisation where retired police officers could meet regularly to rekindle friendships and form new friendships, and share memories of the past on a regular basis.

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He said that this, however, didn’t transpire for many years.

“At a funeral service of a former colleague in August 2016, a senior officer, Brigadier Bala Naidoo, initiated a meeting at a local school assembly area a month later. The first meeting was convened on 10 September that year and there was an overwhelming response with around 30 retired members attending. A number of these officers, in their mid eighties, had not seen, met or spoken to each other since their retirement, more than 30 years ago,” said Govender.

Pietermaritzburg now has a membership of 60 members and Naidoo saw the need to initiate the same among retired officers in Durban.

The inaugural meeting took place at the Japanese Gardens, Durban, through a lack of accommodation. Naidoo, through his skills and vast experience, was appointed as the interim chairperson.

No less than 20 officers meet at the same venue once a month, on the third Friday. Officer’s spouses have also been integrated at the meetings, however they discuss matters of mutual interest.

“In the future we will think about inviting the community to these meetings as the officers can share their experiences on crime prevention with them. We have just started now and we first want to get to know each other and develop friendships,” said Govender.

All retired commissioned officers are welcome to attend the next meeting on 16 March at 10am at the Japanese Gardens in Durban North. Interested officers are encouraged to contact Brigadier Morgan Naicker on 082 414 6828 or Colonel Daniel Naidoo on 060 972 2047.

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