‘If we can’t turn to the police, who can we turn to?’

PARK Hill resident and chairperson of the Clarendon Neighbourhood Watch, Denise Masson, said she reacted with anger after reading the story of harassment allegations labelled at the Greenwood Park Police Station. Speaking to Northglen News last week, Masson said if no action is taken against the police officers, she would organise a community march to the station or begin a petition to show the residents’ unhappiness with police service.

“When I read the article I was fuming, but mostly I was disappointed and sad. We are encouraged to report crime, but if we can’t turn to the police, who can we turn to? Unfortunately these allegations create a sense of distrust between residents and the station, it becomes an ‘us’ and ‘them’ story. We live in a wonderful neighbourhood and this cannot be allowed to go on.

“We aren’t talking about some distant police station, the Greenwood Park station is right around the corner. We want to reach out but we need the police to back us up. I’m open to discussion regarding the goings on at the station and I’m not in a unique position here. Other CPF members would like the same, we need to work together to fight crime and corruption,” she said.

Masson said she hoped the allegations would encourage other residents in the area to join the neighbourhood watch.

“The apathy within the community is also a problem when it comes to issues such as police corruption. As a community we need to stand up and we need to be aware of our rights. We often have people from various professions talking to us at neighbourhood watch meetings, informing us of what to do in situations like the one Teevashnee found herself in,” she said.