#ICYMI: Farewell, and thanks to JMPD member
PARKVIEW – The farewell was hosted to celebrate Willie Pannell who has worked with the JMPD for 14 years.
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) hosted a farewell for Willie Pannell, a much-respected member of the department, on 19 September at the Johannesburg Zoo.
Pannell, who is originally from the United States, has been providing training and advice to the department for the past 14 years and will be returning to America for his retirement.
He was praised by various high-ranking members of the department for his work.
The former chief of Metro police, Chris Ngcobo said the American embassy approached him 14 years ago to offer support. Ngcobo asked if someone could advise the department, and within a few months, Pannell arrived.
“We are very pleased that you were among us and we thank the American embassy and the government for providing this service,” said Ngcobo.
The acting chief of the Metro Police Department, Sam Sethagu said, “Mr Pannell was the technical law enforcement advisor to the JMPD, and during this period he developed the policy and procedure manual for the department and this document has come in very handy in dealing with the misconduct of our officers.”
Among other things, Pannell developed the personnel selection and promotion criteria, assisted in the performance management coaching process for the top managers within the department, and he assisted in the enhancement of the internal discipline processes.
“I have relationships that I have made with the JMPD that I will never forget. I can truly say that the last 14 years… have been the best years of my life,” said Pannell.
Wayne Minnaar, the spokesperson for Metro police added that Pannell has taught the department much about how the American police worked and how the Metro Police Department could adapt that. He added that the department would always be grateful to Pannell for his work.
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