Vranas is spoken highly of by members in the community, and is largely considered a stalwart in his efforts to raise awareness and prevent crime in the areas under the Parkview police precinct.
Ward 87 councillor Amanda Forsythe said, “[Vranas] has been hands-on and an enormous support. He has been so unselfish for so long, he deserves to take time for himself and his family.”
Parkview Station Commander Colonel Nanda Moodley said, “He was very active in meetings from security providers and came out to support many operations, and has done so much for the community.”
Geoff Klaus, Vranas’s friend and chair of the Parkview Community Police Forum (CPF), explained the nuanced difference between the community police forum and the community security forum.
“The [police forum] is elected and consists of a set committee. Its role is to act as an interface and to liaise between the community and the police. The [security forum] is affiliated with the [police forum] but is a more open-ended body and allows for wider representation in the community which includes residents’ associations, security companies, and events organisers. They convene on an ad hoc basis,” he said.
Klaus noted that Vranas was the chair of the security forum for several years, and that during his tenure, he was always present and involved.
“[Vranas] was active, concerned and always available. There was a passion there, which is important. He is a lawyer and helped the community distill the bylaws,” said Klaus.
In Vranas’s absence, Klaus will be running the community security forum until a new chair is elected at the annual general meeting.
” The [security forum] is still open in the meantime. We meet the third Wednesday of every month at 6pm in the boardroom of the Parkview Police Station, and anyone is welcome to take part,” he said.
Vranas himself was in the process of settling down in his new location and could not be reached for comment.
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