Communication is key for new sector commander
DOUGLASDALE - There are lots of new faces at Douglasdale Police Station, and the community will be glad to know that the new Sector 4 manager is a very good communicator.
Warrant Officer Hein van Heerden joined the South African Police Service in 1992 and served as a member of the East Rand Flying Squad. Van Heerden said that prior to joining the police, he had done a year of military service.
In 1998, Van Heerden was transferred to Randburg Police Station where he worked in the crime prevention and robbery reaction departments.
In 2000, he was made a sector manager at Randburg Police Station and mainly covered the Bryanston area. “During my time as a sector manager for Randburg Police Station, I had a good relationship with the community,” Van Heerden said. “I would say that the relationship was akin to that of a family or friendship bond.”
During this time, Van Heerden was asked to take on the role of communications officer for the station and filled the position from 2003 to 2009.
Van Heerden said while working in Randburg Police Station, the Douglasdale Station was established as a satellite station that was part of Randburg Police Station so he knows the Douglasdale policing precinct quite well.
“My challenge as a new sector manager will be to join in with the community structures that are already in place and familiarise myself with the area, since Fourways has changed a lot,” he said.
Van Heerden said he needed to start building trust with the community and show them that Douglasdale police are not as bad as they’ve been portrayed to be.
Van Heerden urged the public to contact him about any policing issues in Sector 4, which includes Pineslopes, Lonehill and Magaliessig.
Details: 071 675 7160.
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