Flying squad stalwart retires after 41 years

When stepping out in his newly issued uniform as a member of the South African Railway Police in January 1981, Brigadier Samuel Killian did not imagine that leaving the quiet streets of Graaff-Reinet would have him become one of the East Rand’s most distinguished officers.

As he is clearing out his office at the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS) headquarters, the provincial head of Rapid Response Services is reminiscing about a 41-year career that saw him heading up the establishment of the flying squad as well as overseeing the centralisation of the 10111 call centre.

Units that have formed part of his extensive portfolio, include:
• Nine Gauteng K9 units
• The 10111 call centre in Midrand
• Seven provincial flying squad units
• Four mounted units
• Two accident response units
• The water wing, police divers as well as hostage and suicide negotiators.

The husband and father of four from Benoni will, at the end of September, be slipping into the slower routine as a retiree, but admits that taking off the badge on September 30 may take a little longer than usual.

“I have enjoyed a very fast-paced and often very exciting career,” said Killian.

“As a young father in the late 80s, I often spent long periods away from home while I served on the SAPS’ anti-hijacking unit aboard SAA flights.”

As Killian climbed the ranks, he was soon reassigned to the Boksburg Police Station. In 1993 he was again promoted, this time as major and was tasked with the establishment of the Kempton Park Flying Squad.

“Knowing that members of this unit would require more specialised training, such as advanced driving to name a few, I enrolled to complete the courses,” he said.

“This allowed me to understand what situations my men and women would face thus giving me greater insight in what managerial steps needed to be taken to allow them to work more efficiently.”

In 1996 he became the unit head of the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS) and in 1999 he became a qualified hostage and suicide negotiator.

“This role was bittersweet, as an officer you are taught how to use your skills to rescue victims from a severely volatile situation or to use empathy to convince a tired soul that there is hope in a seemingly hopeless situation,” said Killian.

“Often you walk away from such a scene with great success, in other instances a life is lost.

“It is through these moments that you discover your humility and need to push your ego aside and ask for guidance from above as well as others who are better equipped to usher you through trauma for you to be able to return to work and operate from a place of better understanding.”

In 2015, he was promoted to brigadier, after which all rapid response units came under his leadership.

Of his team, Samuel says that by leaving the unit he will be bidding farewell to colleagues who have become friends and confidants.

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“One cannot work so closely with so many dynamic people and not expect that their presence in your life will not impact you as a person,” he said.

“I never joined the police to get titles or ranks, but thank God every day that I was able to serve, protect and make a difference in this country. There was no greater honour to wear the badge.

“I will need to debrief myself to settle into a slower pace of life.”