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| NEWS > 03 October 2007 |
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Police chief speaks out
LORAIN -- At Monday's City Council meeting, Councilman-at-Large Dan Given demanded answers from Lorain police Chief Cel Rivera about the conduct of his officers.
Yesterday, Rivera said he was surprised to learn Given had chastised him. The chief said he discussed his improvement plans with Given during his short stint as safety-service director.
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Rivera noted, ''Six months ago the city was out of control with homicides, armed robberies and the beating of an elderly couple, and our officers worked very hard to catch those responsible and hold... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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The Southern African - Toronto
03 October 2007
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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South African Police Service
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South Africa: SAPS bad boys, w
More than 5 000 criminal acts, including misconduct, were committed in 2006/2007 by the country’s policemen and women, who murdered, maimed and assaulted 1 398 people.
This was revealed during the tabling of the Independent Complaints Director (ICD) annual report in parliament.
The crime spree by South Africa’s cops was the worst in Gauteng, where 1 256 of the 5 412 reported incidents were recorded. The Western Cape saw 829 cases of criminal activity and misconduct by cops, while KwaZulu-Natal recorded 631 cases of crime and misconduct.
The police watchdog has revealed that of the 5 412 recorded incidents, 2 760 related to misconduct, 1 787 to criminal activities, 698 to death and 167 to domestic violence.
Sparking concern is the 11% increase in deaths through police action and in police custody.
In the past financial year, 698 people died either at the hands of police or while being detained, up from 621 in 2005/2006. In total 419 people died through police action, up from 312 in 2005/2006, while 279 died in police custody, down from 309.
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape accounted for most of the deaths through police action with 169, 153 and 79 respectively. In Gauteng 52 people died in detention, followed by the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal with 39 and 34 deaths respectively.
Limpopo recorded the biggest increase in deaths – up by 34% from 44 in 2005/2006 to 67. The Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Durban metro police services accounted for nine of the 698 deaths. Shootings accounted for 54% of the number of suspects killed by
police, with 269 people being shot. Of those shot, 141 were killed by police during the course of arrest, 97 during the commission of a crime and 31 while escaping from lawful custody.
Four bystanders were among those shot dead by cops after being caught in the crossfire between criminals and police officers, while 44 people were knocked down by police vehicles and 23 murdered through police negligence. Police members, who apparently
snapped due to job pressures, killed 56 of their spouses and children in domestic violence-related incidents and off-duty shootings – an 84% increase from 2005/2006 when nine people were killed by husbands and wives in the SAPS.
Of those who died in custody, 108 died from natural causes while 94 people committed suicide, up from 75 in 2005/2006. Thirty-one suspects died in detention after sustaining injuries, and 46 died before they were taken into custody.
The police watchdog revealed that 530 police officials were arrested for assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm, 251 for common assault, 198 for attempted murder, 91 for “serious” corruption, 24 for rape, 35 for pointing a firearm, 39 for intimidation, 26 for harassment and 56 for the sale, theft and destruction of dockets and exhibits.
Institute of Security Studies policing specialist Johan Burger said that the high level of crime in South Africa was reflected in the offences committed by police officers.
“If South Africa’s crime situation is allowed to continue we will definitely see an increase in crimes, especially domestic abuse, committed by police officials. “It is urgent that the crime level be addressed if police officers who commit crime such as assaults and murders, are to be stopped.
“There is a vicious circle with crime in the country which is placing pressure on the police, who react by either using excessive violence themselves in apprehending criminals or against their families, or involve themselves in criminal activities. “This circle needs to be broken because if it is not this country will be torn apart,” he said.
Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said: “It is of extreme concern when the ones who should be protecting us and safeguarding our interests are the ones that we should be fearful of. “This increase in police criminality and misconduct is just one example of the overall mismanagement of the South African Police Service,” she said.
Police spokesperson Selby Bokaba said he had not seen the ICD report and was not in an immediate position to comment.
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