Namibian police face danger daily, honoured on International Blue Day

What officers face in the line of duty

Policing in Namibia often requires officers to confront danger in order to protect the public, a reality that many say comes with both physical and emotional risks.

Police sergeant Shikongo Amushe says the dangers officers face do not end once their shifts are over.

Amushe was speaking on Saturday on the sidelines of International Blue Day, where the police honoured 17 police officers who have died in the line of duty over the past seven years.

“There are lots of life-threatening situations as a police officer while on duty, I mean not only while on duty but even off duty,” Amushe said.

“As a police officer you are at a very greater danger especially with unlawfully abiding individuals (criminals).

As a police officer you can’t move freely in the society we are sworn to protect,” he added.

Another police officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, says the risks officers face are part of the reality of policing.

“Every day when you report for duty you know you might not come back home.

Whether it’s responding to violent crime, accidents or domestic disputes, the danger is always there,” the officer says.

He adds that despite the risks, many officers remain committed to serving the public.

“We understand the responsibility that comes with the uniform. Even though it is dangerous, we continue to serve because the community depends on us,” the officer says.

He says his job does not scare him because he knew what he was getting himself into before signing up for this career.

“I know of the dangers that come with being a police officer and because I believe I was born with a passion to serve this country, I willingly put my life at risk to save others and that is what it takes to be a real officer,” he says.

The police on Saturday revealed that motor vehicle accidents were the cause of death for most Namibian police officers who died in the line of duty over the past five years, with many of the victims serving in the very important persons (VIP) directorate.

A significant number of the officers involved in fatal accidents were attached to the VIP Directorate in the Khomas region.

Oshana police regional commander commissioner Naftal Sakaria says officers frequently encounter life-threatening situations while carrying out routine operations.

“Oh yes, indeed we as police officers are faced daily by dangerous situations,” Sakaria says. He says incidents where officers are injured or killed while performing their duties are not uncommon.

“We have got officers who, like in Oshana, an officer was run over by a vehicle while performing a duty at a traffic checkpoint, the roadblock,” he says. Sakaria adds that police officers are often injured while responding to unpredictable situations.

“We’ve got officers who got injured badly while attending to a person with mental illness.

We have got officers who hurt or lost their lives in vehicle accidents while attending to calls,” he says.

He says officers may also face armed confrontations with criminals.
“So the danger is imminent, exchanging fire with criminals.

And personally, I’m from a Special Reserve Force background.

I’ve engaged in firefights with robbers before, so it’s the grace of God really that we are still here,” Sakaria says.

Beyond confrontations with suspects, some policing duties also involve risks in specialised operations.

“I’m a scuba diver, you go underwater trying to retrieve evidence and drowned persons.

There’s a dangerous world under there, so it is a very dangerous job, but someone has to do it,” he says.

Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo says policing demands long hours, resilience in the face of danger, and a firm commitment to justice and peace.
“Our fallen officers understood this calling. They stood firm in moments of uncertainty,” he says.

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