Following the arrest of an EMPD officer for trying to hijack a truck in Boksburg this week, the Ekurhuleni metro told the Boksburg Advertiser that work is already underway to clean out the metro police’s ranks.
In an interview, the City of Ekurhuleni MMC for Community Safety, Frans Mmoko, admitted that the EMPD was bedevilled by criminality involving police officers, and their behaviour is having and adverse effect on the metro?s efforts to protect the public.
“I’m sure you know that this is not the first case wherein police officers are involved in criminal activities, and we are not going to begin to shy away from applying the law. The law will apply to each and every person irrespective of the positions they hold in the community or public sector.”
Mmoko described the officer’s behaviour as appalling, despicable conduct which tarnishes all the good work done by the majority of the EMPD officers in protecting communities.
“Our member is involved in a serious crime with civilians, and it’s a good result that he has been arrested. It sends out a strong message to anyone involved or thinking of committing these sorts of crimes that whoever is involved in any criminal activity, be it a police officer or whoever, we shall act and act decisively. “You could easily tell that this was not a mistake, judging from how it was executed. You can tell that this has been an ongoing practice,” said Mmoko.
Both the MMC and the SAPS stated that the suspects will be linked to other crimes, including hijackings and cables thefts.
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“We are going to launch an intensive investigation into this because the use of an unlicensed firearm along with police service-issued firearm as well as the police vehicle tells you that a number of criminal activities had taken place. The metro is plagued by cable thefts, so there is no way that you could not suspect that he is involved if he as a police officer entrusted to safeguard the City’s infrastructure goes all out and hijacks a truck when we suffer so many cable thefts within the metro?”
Mmoko, however, pointed out that these crimes are committed by a few morally corrupt members in the police force, as the majority of the police officers in the force are committed and word diligently and tirelessly to protect the public.
“As you know, the rotten apples are arrested by the good police officer, who are many. So there are only a few corrupt members within our ranks. As a result, we have decided we must clean the organisation. Where there are elements of ill-discipline and criminal activities by people who are supposed to be on the streets fighting crime, we arrest them like we have done with this chap (the arrested EMPD officer).”
The officer, who is part of the EMPD Anti-Cable Theft and Loss Control Unit, was arrested on May 14 after he, along with his civilian accomplices, was allegedly caught red-handed trying to hijack a delivery truck transporting masks on the N12 in Boksburg, according to the police.
The suspects were reportedly using two getaway cars, a Mercedes-Benz and a metro police vehicle, a white Polo sedan fitted with police blue lights and mixed number plates, one belonging to the JMPD and the other for EMPD.
The suspects tried to evade arrests by driving away, resulting in a high-speed chase that resulted in their getaway vehicle crashing into a truck on the corner of Rolls Royce Street and Atlas Road, Impala Park.
The two arrested suspects were both scheduled to appear in court soon.
The arrested pair was allegedly part of four other suspects who managed to get away. Police are still trying to find the other suspects.Anyone with information that may lead to the arrests of the wanted suspects is encouraged to contact the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111.
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