Africa-Press – Namibia. WINDHOEK City Police Chief Abraham Kanime, who this morning bids farewell to the municipal police, said his journey at the city police has been incredible and memorable.
In his speech, the outgoing chief of the city police urged members to keep the programmes adopted by the city police, such as the use of technology to combat crime, victim support services, drone surveillance, community and zonal policing, CCTV cameras, amongst others, to meet the requirements of their newly implemented ‘smart city’ concept.
“I am closing my 42-year career in public services, safety and security services, and I am confident that I have done what I could do. I have laid a foundation, and I know that the legacy of City police will continue,” Kanime said.
Kanime, who is the first chief of the Windhoek City Police, has been at the helm of the Windhoek municipal police since its inception in 2001.
He indicated that today marks 22 years since the implementation of the Windhoek Municipal Police after the amendment of the police act 19 of 1990, which made a provision for the establishment of municipal police services.
“Most of the critical tasks we performed were the documents of the policing concept, structural set, training needs, identification of legislative gaps, as well as operational costs,” Kanime explained.
Kanime further recalled the technical challenges he and his team faced at the time, adding that some of them were drafting the declaration of the peace officer in terms of section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which was later gazetted to give full powers to the municipal police officers to effect any arrest or enforce all laws in their area of jurisdiction and when in hot pursuit, anywhere in Namibia.
“Another document we drafted was the memorandum of agreement between the Windhoek City Police and the Namibian Police Force. The aim of the establishment of the City police was not to compete with the Namibian Police but to complement each other in combating crime,” he added.
Kanime urged the young and vibrant men and women in the force to continue with their creativity and innovation in improving policing skills and to make law enforcement more effective and efficient.
Members of the Namibian Police Force, members of the Namibian Defense Force brass band, and members of the Namibian Correctional Service attended the farewell ceremony of the outgoing chief of the City Police.
He is replaced by Deputy Chief Leevi Shivolo Iileka, who will temporarily be heading the Windhoek Municipal Police until further notice.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
