Former Bishop Lavis police chief Brigadier Christopher Jones is leaving SAPS after more than four decades to join the City’s Metro Police.
He took over as deputy chief of Metro Police last week, saying he hopes to now have better resources to serve communities.
“I want to tell the communities that I served that I hope they will support me now in my new venture and all new crime prevention and initiatives and that they will work with the City so that we can ensure safer communities.”
He joined SAPS in 1986 and worked his way up the ranks, becoming the Philippi police station commander in 2001. He moved to Grassy Park police station in 2004 and then to Kleinvlei police station for four years. In 2010, he became a brigadier and took over as the Bishop Lavis police station commander until August last year, when he became a district commander in charge of 33 police stations across Cape Town.
Working in difficult communities, such as those plagued by gangs, and contending with departments that did not work together had been just some of the challenges of his police career, he said.
“The biggest reward of the job is when perpetrators are caught and given long jail sentences because that means we remove obstacles from the community and they feel safer. The community support is also a huge reward as well as developing colleagues. The commitment and dedication of subordinates – having a great team is so rewarding,” he said.
Bonteheuwel ward councillor Angus McKenzie wished Brigadier Jones well with his future role.
“When I started out as ward councillor of Bonteheuwel, one of my first engagements was with Bishop Lavis station commander Brigadier Jones. My vision was clear and he shared it, take Bishop Lavis out of the top-10 worst stations in Cape Town, Western Cape and South Africa. He supported my plans and I supported his. We achieved our target. Today, I am so proud and hugely excited to call him a colleague.”
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said Brigadier Jones had a wealth of experience and was highly respected by City enforcement staff who had worked with him over the years.
