Highway Mail met up with the family man at his home in New Germany on Friday. Asked about how he feels about his retirement, Middleton laughed and said, “It hasn’t sunken in yet – it feels surreal – it has only been been a few days. I have been in and out of the office, busy with handovers, clearing my office and meeting up with people. “Today is the first time that I have not been in the office,” he says.
How it all started
“It might sound strange, but growing up, I attended one school my whole life: Brebner High School in Bloemfontein. The school had cadets where people marched, and they had a band. I was in the band and was also part of the cadets. It was not a military school, but it was very rich as far as discipline was concerned.
“It led me to have integrity and respect for understanding instructions,” he says.
On his 18th birthday on January 5, Middleton says he was called up to the military police. “I worked there for 12 and a half years and retired a major.
“In my first six years, I went through the rank levels of second lieutenant, lieutenant, captain and then major. I have been a commanding officer of a military-police base as well as a second-in-command at some other bases.”
He says he enjoyed his time in military service. “I just grew into it, so when a post for deputy chief security officer was advertised, I just floated in and grabbed it, which ended up being 45 years and 26 days,” the family man says with a smile.
In 1990, Middleton joined the then Durban Corporation as the deputy chief security officer responsible for lost control. In 2002, he joined the first head of Metro Police, Eugene Nzama, to help him draw up the structure of Durban Metro Police.
In 2004, he became the Metro Police deputy head responsible for logistics.
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When he was appointed as head of Metro Police in 2018, Middleton said he was asked what legacy he would like to leave, and his response was: ‘For the eThekwini Metro Police to be the best Metro Police in the country’.
“And after four years of being the head, I can confidently state to all members, you are by far the best Metro Police in the country. It has been acknowledged at all levels in the country and even to a certain extent by other Metro Police. This is a best-practice municipality as far as Metro Police is concerned,” said the proud Middleton.
He added that Metro Police have also achieved gender equality in having more women appointed into positions.
Middleton (63) states that the highlight of his career was his ability to work with people. “I wanted to grow them through equity and skills. I have always wanted to empower people and see them grow and proud of their work.
“Metro is a group of people, not an individual. The members have become proud to wear their uniform and go to work – it makes me so happy to see and hear them saying they are proud to call themselves Metro Police,” says Middleton.
Family first
“The main thing now is to spend more time with family – there is no doubt about that,” he says, adding that he has two children in grades 8 and 9.
“Unfortunately, there is no sleeping late for me as I need to take them to school, and there are also extra activities in the afternoon,” says the father of five with a smile.
As much as Middleton is a bit sad to leave work, he admits that he needs the break. “After 45 years, the mind gets tired. Although my work was enjoyable, there are things that we have no control over, such as the floods – they affect how we deploy members, so my retirement takes a huge weight off my shoulders and will allow me to spend quality time with my family.”
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