Concrete evidence way to keep criminals off the street, says brigadier
PROUD OFFICER: Karoo peacekeeper Brig Andries Trollip says he was born to be a policeman
CRIME does not sleep and neither does Graaff-Reinet’s top cop. Veteran policeman and Karoo resident Brigadier Andries Trollip, 58 – known to locals as Dries – joined the police at 16 with the idea of taking criminals off the streets.
More than 42 years later he is still in his dream job.
The avid runner and cyclist is often called a workaholic, arriving at the Graaff-Reinet police station as early as 6am every day.
His philosophy is to lead by example and get a head start on crime. “I really do love my job. I get to the office at 6am and make a cup of coffee before sieving through data and compiling strategies.
“By the time we have our morning meetings, I am prepared. I have seven police stations under my supervision and it is up to me to make sure they are running at full steam.
“I know exactly where every one of my police vehicles is at any time and personally take an interest in the daily tracking of the vehicles to make sure everyone is where they are meant to be – fighting crime.”
Trollip, who has run nine Comrades Marathons, 17 Two Oceans Marathons and completed 15 Cape Argus cycle tours, said the secret to clamping down on crime was to strategise and link criminals to as many cases as possible before going to court.
“I have an open-door policy. I get feedback from head detectives on which suspects are linked to which cases. The more concrete evidence we obtain, the more likely a conviction and the longer the person remains behind bars.”
Trollip, who grew up on his family’s Bloemfontein dairy farm, joined the police force as a constable in 1974.
“I was born to be a policeman. I have no regrets. Like any career, there are ups and downs, but I would not trade this job for anything in the world.
“To serve and protect the community runs in my veins,” Trollip said at the Graaff-Reinet police station last week.
“My dad was a farmer and one day in 1974 he found an illegal firearm lying on the farm. He called the police and that is when I knew what I was going to do.
“I will never forget seeing the police arrive and thinking to myself, ‘One day I want to do that’.
“Within months I had left school and enlisted in the police.”
Within six years of joining the police, Trollip was promoted to sergeant and completed his police administration diploma. In 1991 he completed his bachelor’s degree in police science and by 1994 his honours degree. Promotion followed fast, taking him to more than 15 police stations.
By 1989 Trollip was promoted to captain at the Graaff-Reinet police station. Again promotion followed.
By 1993 he had been promoted to station commander of the Cradock area office as the crime prevention unit head. “There I had to supervise 17 police stations.”
Reminiscing about his younger days, Trollip told how he had confronted two fugitives who escaped from custody and fled to the outskirts of Harrismith.
“I remember it like yesterday. The two had just escaped after being sentenced to life imprisonment. I spotted the vehicle they were driving in and a car chase ensued. I almost died that day.
“During the arrest, one of the suspects tried to grab my firearm and a scuffle ensued. I knew if I did not get my gun back I was dead.
“Fortunately I managed to overpower them.”
Another scene that stood out for Trollip was his first fatal accident.
“This was the first time I had ever been to a culpable homicide, never mind one where 11 people had died. It was one of the most horrific scenes I have ever witnessed and it has stuck with me.”
Once he spent 19 days straight in the bush waiting for stock thieves.
“For 19 days I hid in the bushes only to realise it was the farmer’s son stealing his own father’s sheep,” he said.
In the middle of next year, he will hang up his uniform.
“I have done my bit to get criminals off the street and am proud to be in the police. Retirement is near and the first thing I want to do is take a long holiday with my wife. I want to travel and do all the things I have always wanted to do.”
-Gareth Wilson
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