Sandton Police commander Billings retires

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The retired Sandton Police Station commander and member of the Alexandra Police Cluster, Brigadier Alan Billings urged young police officers aspiring for advancement in the police service, to further their education.

Billings said this on the eve of his retirement at the end of August this year after 40 years of unbroken service, having educated himself after matric, obtaining a police diploma and a Masters Degree in Law. He is currently preparing for admission as an Advocate of the High Court.

In a message of encouragement, he said, “Nothing will prepare them better for the challenging police work than education. It will improve their efficiency and creativity when dealing with the evolving nuances and trends in crime.”

Billings added that the present conditions were also favourable and provided them free education up to university level at the police college and many in-house training programmes. “This should inspire them to realise their potential, achieve their dreams and will expose them to other opportunities.”

Billings joined the police in 1978, during political upheavals when many lost their lives for freedom and when black police officers also struggled to earn the respect of their white counterparts. Despite this, he rose through the ranks and led many stations in Joburg and Pretoria.

He commanded the Sandton station for 10 years, a period he said was challenging and rewarding given the clout and nature of the area and its residents who include top national, business, industry and even foreign institution leaders who put State institutions under intense scrutiny 24/7.

He said his team of 294 members has reduced crime by close to 50 per cent. “Statistically, aggravated robberies, hijackings and rapes have gone down, and many criminals have been sentenced to life imprisonment which discouraged others.”

He credited the station’s success to improved command, control and communication processes, the unity in the Alexandra Police Cluster stations (which includes Sandton) and the social cohesion with various role players, which created a critical mass for better detection of and reaction to crime scenes. In this, he included private security agencies, the community police forums and government’s employment programmes like Jozi@Work which, he said, discouraged crime.

Billings won’t be lost to justice as he looks forward to being a community builder focusing on eradicating drugs and related crimes. He is a member of his community, Ennerdale’s, local drug committee and in other areas including Alexandra.

“I will advocate against drugs in churches, lead shows and marches – some to drug dealers’ homes, educate the public on different drugs, discourage the use of hookah pipes which introduce smoking addiction, and motivate for more drug rehabilitation centres. I will not be bored,” he quipped.

For now, he looks forward to a family holiday he viewed as a luxury when still in service, and to waking up at 7am instead of 4.30am.

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