Think twice before you let a cop in
NEXT time you seek the help from a police officer, take note that the man or woman in blue may be a criminal.
This follows a revelation in Parliament on 14 August that some of the most senior officers in the police service have criminal records.
Top ranked officials such as major-generals, brigadiers, colonels, lieutenants-colonel and majors are on this list.
According to the report, none of the 1 448 officers that a recent criminality audit had found to have records had been fired.
There are 1 116 police stations in South Africa, divided according to the provincial borders.
With 1 448 police officers having got their hands dirty at some point before or during their policing duties, it means each police station across the country may have at least one bad cop.
The audit, which covers only the period before January 2010, was conducted to establish how many officers with criminal records were still employed by the police.
Acting deputy national police commissioner for human resources development Nkrumah Mazibuko told Parliament: “They go through a disciplinary process appeal and we are ordered to reinstate them.
“If the person appeals the sentence and it is reduced to a suspension then, in terms of the police law, the person is entitled to apply for reinstatement.”
So, before letting an officer into your house or divulging sensitive information, keep this in mind: the officer tasked with crime prevention as well as your safety and security may be on the wrong side of the law.
