New provincial commander settles in at Benoni Flying Squad
“To be a good leader you need to ensure that your team members know that you support and care for them.”
Dedication, passion and discipline, these are the characteristics every member of the Rapid Response Services (RSS) should possess.
This is according to the newly appointed provincial commander for specialised uniform support, Colonel Nasheem Singh, based at the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS).
Singh started his highly decorated career within the SAPS in 1984, following in the footsteps of his older brother.
“I knew that being a police officer was my calling and I was adamant to make a career within the service,” he said.
“Stationed in Kwa-Zulu Natal, I later joined the special guarding unit in Cape Town but my interest soon diverted to the K9 unit. In 1991 I completed my explosive dog training course shortly followed by a patrol dog course.”
Becoming an operational member of the K9 unit across the country, Singh was transferred to the Gauteng in 2003 after which he became the unit commander for Johannesburg K9 support in 2005.
In 2017 he was promoted to superintendent as the provincial commander of the K9 and mounted service.
He was promoted to colonel in November, last year.
Now based in Northmead, Singh oversees the various specialised and functional units which include divers, hostage negotiators, accident response as well as disaster management.
“When needed, these specialist units are deployed to conduct primary functions as necessitated by the situation,” he said.
“Our teams are all highly qualified, the cream of the crop. Members work on specialised operations, information and deployments.”
When asked what his vision for the unit is during his tenure at the helm, Singh admits that he would like to grow it by increasing member numbers.
“Gauteng is a busy province in terms of population and economic growth,” he said.
“Commands for deployment are increasing daily and therefore we need more boots on the ground.”
He said that new recruits to the unit need to be disciplined but most of all be passionate about serving the community while fighting crime.
“We wear these badges because we have a community to serve,” he said.
“Officers of the RSS units live according to the code of conduct that they swore to uphold.”
Singh said he is excited to enter this new deployment with the help of his highly skilled support commanders.
Also Read: Flying Squad foils armed robbery
Also Read: Off-duty Benoni Flying Squad officer helps nab counterfeiter
