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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The spokesperson for the Mossel Bay Police Station, which is in George Street, has retired last month after 39 years in the police.

Although disabled since 1988, Warrant Officer Pieter Koekemoer served whole-heartedly, like an able-bodied officer, and he is also an exceptional sportsman.

For 28 years of his 39 years' service, he was a warrant officer.

PHOTO GALLERY: Putting the able in disabled

Koekemoer joined the police on 1 April 1984 at John Vorster Square, now known as the Johannesburg Central Police Station.

From 1985 to 1987 he was a member of the Reaction Unit at John Vorster Square, which was part of the Diepkloof Riot Unit.

Koekemoer went on to join the then Security Branch in 1987 and continued there until 1991. There he excelled in rugby and boxing. He won the SA Police national boxing championships in 1987. In 1988 he came second, losing only to Corrie Sanders, who went on to be a boxing world champion.

In 1988 Koekemoer was chosen for the Transvaal rugby squad, now called the Lions.

Koekemoer competing in the Groot Brak Grabadoo in 2006.

Accident

While on duty in 1988 he was in an accident, after which his leg had to be amputated. Koekemoer moved to Mossel Bay in 1991, where he worked in the Security Branch until 1993.

From 1994 until 1998 he worked in the Water Wing, now called the Sea Border Unit, in the Mossel Bay area. From 1995 to 2005 he was a police diver. What made his achievements as a diver exceptional, was that he was disabled and he was performing among able bodied police officers.

Koekemoer was the first amputee to pass the stringent police diving course, facilitated by the police National Task Force in Pretoria. Many able-bodied policemen did not pass it. He was a class 4 commercial diver - proficient in rescue and recovery.

Farm safety

While still a diver, Koekemoer was the farm safety co-ordinator for the greater Mossel Bay area from 1998 until 2000. This division is now known as Rural Safety.

In 1999 he won the prestigious Western Province Disabled Policeman of the Year Award and the national Disabled Policeman of the Year Award. This was for rescuing a man and his wife during floods in Klein Brak that year. Koekemoer bravely entered floodwaters to save the couple.

From 2000 until his retirement from the police he was a communications officer.

Koekemoer has always been an excellent sportsman. He played rugby for the SWD U21s in 1982 while in infantry school in Oudtshoorn, where he was a corporal.

His amputation changed his life, spurring him to initiate sporting codes for the physically disabled in the Southern Cape.

He became the police's Captain Crime Stop (Robocop) in the 1990s, raising awareness in the community about personal safety and self-defence, as a consultant for women and an instructor for children and women in the Southern Cape.

Pieter Koekemoer when he broke the SA disabled long jump record.

Expert

Koekemoer is an expert in illicit substances, bringing awareness, with the use of exhibitions and giving presentations during his time as a police communicator.

Koekemoer spoke at many schools, but his main focus was on disability in the police. Disabled persons have always been close to his heart.

In the mid-90s, he was a founding member of the Mossel Bay Sports Association for Persons with Disabilities. He chaired the association for about 10 years.

Koekemoer was also the SWD Sports Association for Persons with Disabilities vice-president.

He competed in many national tournaments for the disabled and received many medals and accolades in track and field athletics, cycling, hand cycling, lawn bowls, wheelchair basketball and the police "fitness" sports code (obstacle course).

Beloved Captain Crime Stop (Robocop).

Record

He still holds the record for long jump in the South African Disabled Championships, which he broke 25 years ago.

He received his Springbok colours for hand cycling and he competed in the 108km Cape Argus as a hand cyclist, coming sixth in the world.

Koekemoer competed in the police national lawn bowls championships in Gqeberha this week.

He has police national colours in road cycling and lawn bowls. He has also won gold, silver and bronze medals at the SA national disabled bowls championships.

Koekemoer and his beautiful wife, Amanda, have a daughter, Carmen, and two grandchildren, Logan and Cameron.

Inspiration

Koekemoer has been a huge inspiration to many young police officers and the Mossel Bay community and leaves a legacy of determination and hope.

"Koekies, Captain Crime Stop or Robocop will be missed and his shoes will be difficult to fill. Enjoy your retirement, gentle giant," said his colleague, WO Kappie Kapp.

Koekemoer's advice on his retirement is: "Do to others as you would have them do to you. Treat people with dignity no matter where they come from, old or young and whatever culture. All people are sacred in my eyes."

Koekemoer broke the high jump record for the disabled in the national championships in Oudtshoorn in the 1990s.

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