Child protector relocates to Singapore

AFTER a quarter of century in policing, well-known policewoman, Capt Erika Clifton-Parks has not only hung up her uniform, but relocated to Singapore.

“I am excited and nervous, but looking forward to the adventure.” She left Toti along with her son, Mark on Thursday, 19 February.
Mark, who matriculated in 2014, will pursue business studies at James Cook University. “We decided to move after we visited my sister in Indonesia in 2013. Mark wanted to study overseas, he applied and was accepted. It’s a new beginning and journey for us both.”

As a youngster, Erika ‘always wanted to be a cop’. After matriculating at Kuswag, she attended police college. “I started my career as a student at Toti and have come full circle, ending my career here.”
Having worked at the abuse desk at Toti police station, Erika switched to the Child Protection Unit, as she enjoyed working with children.

“One of my career highlights was attaining a life sentence for a man who raped his 12-year-old daughter. We battled to get the case to court, once it got there it took more than three years to finalise. Every time we prepped the child to testify in court, the case was postponed. Eventually we pleaded with the court, the child testified and it was the best feeling when he was sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Erika was also very involved in working with Operation Bobbi Bear. She attended the organisation’s Saturday support group for the last 17 years.
“I will miss my friends at the police station and the close-knit community.”

She has no firm career plans in mind. “I would like to work with children, but not in a police environment. I have completed an English teaching course and a counselling course, so I could pursue something along these lines.”

Erika does not see her relocation as a farewell. “It has been a pleasure serving with the guys in blue. I want the community to be safe and to keep on looking out for children and to report abuse. Every little one is a somebody and they need a voice.”