About your police commander
RANDBURG – Meet acting Randburg SAPS Acting Station Commander Colonel Andries Odendaal.
Acting Station Commander for Randburg SAPS, Colonel Andries Odendaal shares his thoughts on being a police officer.
Col Odendaal has been a police officer since 1983. He started as a student in Potchefstroom. He has been with Randburg SAPS for almost six years to date. Col Odendaal will be managing the station until a permanent appointment has been made. “We have a really good relationship with our CPF and businesses in the area. It makes it easier to manage a station well with such great support,” said Col Odendaal.
He addressed the concerns over the large changeover of staff between nearby police stations, including Randburg, Douglasdale and Honeydew police stations. “It is something that needs to be managed with care. When the internal possessions are filled the key roles will continue. We will run the station at a rate in which I will satisfy the progress of the station without affecting the public.”
According to him, residents often have numerous misconceptions involving the Police. “The public get a lot of their information from what they see on TV. The reality is different. It is not all glitz and fame. It comes with lots of practicalities and elbow grease. We do not have unlimited resources unfortunately, and it takes a divided energy of the whole force to source them out.”
Some of the challenges that police officers face everyday is that of “having to have the correct knowledge in order to deal with any situation. It is also sometimes very difficult to remain 100 per cent objective. You have to constantly strive to be professional,” said Col Odendaal. According to him there have been major changes in the force since he started. “The biggest change is technology. We are now able to use technology to aid us in our jobs, like using the computer to track crime patterns.” Also, the department has embraced a multi-disciplinary approach. “They are involving other departments like Metro [Police], and the community to all work together.”
To all aspiring police officers Col Odendaal said, “You must be willing to make a difference in the community. It often comes with shocking realities that you are confronted by and it is your job to take the lead. The force will quickly mature you if you are willing to make scarifies to exact change in your community.”
“I really enjoy being an officer of the law. It enables me to make a difference in the community which is a great privilege,” ends Col Odendaal.
Details: Randburg SAPS 011 449 9000.
