City opens 100 cases against metro police

There were more than 100 disciplinary cases against nearly 50 metro police and city law enforcement officers in the past year, with cases ranging from undisclosed shootings to thefts from a tuckshop and sexual harassment.

There are nearly 1 200 staff in the metro police, law enforcement and specialised services. Four metro police officers resigned during the disciplinary proceedings.

One of the officers resigned early this year after being accused of shooting at a member of the public in Bishop Lavis and failing to report the case.

Another quit after being convicted of drunken driving in Mitchells Plain.

Also in January, an officer was found guilty in an internal hearing over an assault while he was off-duty. He received a final written warning.

Last November an officer was fired after he was arrested for being in possession of drugs in Mitchells Plain.

This was one of 16 criminal cases involving metro police officers. Included in these cases were officers accused of drunken driving, theft from a tuck shop and assault.

Five of the court cases have been withdrawn, while the others have yet to be concluded.

Some of the less serious transgressions include cases of metro police officers drinking on duty and of accidentally firing their weapons. There were also charges of officers speeding, being rude to the public and losing council property.

Some of the cases are still being investigated. But in those finalised, officers received written warnings, suspensions, demotions or counselling, depending on the charge.

A superintendent was removed from the metro police training academy after he was accused of sexual harassment.

In another case two constables were accused of stealing money from a tuck shop.

The city is also investigating a case were a law enforcement officer allegedly asked an offender whether his wife was a prostitute.

Some of the other incidents included:

l An officer caught driving in a bus lane along the N2;

l An officer using his car while booked off sick.

l A sergeant contravening the Child Justice Act.

l An official charged with “conduct unbecoming” after sending “explicit material” via e-mail.

In one of the more light-hearted transgressions, a clerk activated her out-of-office reply a day before calling in sick. The clerk was taken to task for failing to follow procedure and “pre-empting her sick leave”.

JP Smith, the city’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, said some of the charges were laid by disgruntled people when officers raided their homes during search operations.

Smith said there had been a steady decline in the number of cases in the past few years.

He said it was important for the statistics to be available in the interests of transparency. He said the city had ensured there were channels to report misconduct.

“Unfortunately, in a force so large, there will be those involved in mischief. We are paring down the rotten apples. Over the past five years, we have been firing fewer people and disciplining less.”

bronwynne.jooste@inl.co.za - Cape Argus