MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay can boast that one of its police officers is head of the Western Province women's police drill squad.

Captain Ashley Michaels, head of the KwaNonqaba Police detective unit, took up her office as head of the squad in October last year.

Michaels was chosen for the leadership position because she was the highest ranked officer in the Western Province with drill squad experience.

She told the Mossel Bay Advertiser: "I am the only woman captain who does drill; the rest are sergeants, warrant officers or constables. We received a letter telling us the provincial team should take part in a national women's drill squad competition being held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of women being admitted to the police."

Before October, Michaels and her drill squad members in the district had been doing routine drills and she had been the marshalling officer.

The national competition took place yesterday, 27 January, in Pretoria and the result was to be announced yesterday, but only after the Mossel Bay Advertiser had gone to press.

Positive

"I think we have a chance of winning," Michaels said this week. "We're positive."

The policewomen in the Mossel Bay area started the drill squad at the end of 2020. Michaels said: "Provincially, it was decided that every region should have its own drill squad to march at official functions and funerals."

Michaels said she signed up for it because she enjoyed drills.

Born and bred in Mossel Bay, Michaels, aged 51, has had a 31-year career in the police. Her first post was as a student at the Mossel Bay Police Station in George Street. She then went to Bishop Lavis College, after which she was stationed at the Da Gamaskop Police in Mossel Bay.

Michaels has also worked in Pretoria, Cape Town, Kimberley and George and in various units including Organised Crime and Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences.

She is the mother of two adult, working sons.

'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'