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PE cops fear for their lives
04/12/2006 10:00 - (SA)
Maike Curry, Die Burger
Port Elizabeth - A young policeman is fighting for his life in hospital
after yet another bloody shooting at the weekend.
This followed after a bloody shoot-out last Wednesday in which a policeman
died after being shot five times.
A young police reservist, who had to lie underneath her dead colleague's
body and "play dead", survived the incident.
Police spokesperson captain Ernest Sigobe said on Sunday it seemed as if
criminals had declared war on the police. Many officials feared for their
lives.
According to Sigobe sergeant Freddie Boudery, a member of the police's
public order unit, was shot during an armed robbery on Saturday.
Boudery and six other officials and the dog unit went to the Morkels
warehouse in Sidwell after the police had received a call that three
suspects were robbing the warehouse.
"When the police arrived at the scene, the three robbers, who had fled with
an undisclosed amount of money, opened fire on them. Two of the robbers were
armed with 9mm pistols," Sigobe said.
"Boudery was hit in the left thigh in the crossfire."
Sigobe said the 32-ear-old sergeant from Gelvandale was admitted to
Greenacres Hospital and was fighting for his life in the intensive care
unit.
Boudery is married and has three children.
One of the suspects was shot in the face and arm and later died in
Livingstone Hospital as a result of his injuries.
The police managed to arrest one of the robbers, but the third one was still
at large.
Police also confiscated a firearm and sent it away for ballistic tests.
Sigobe said police officials who were with Boudery were seriously
traumatised by the incident and were receiving counselling.
Director Ronald Koll, deputy area commissioner for the Port Elizabeth
police, said police members should not hesitate to use their firearms should
their lives be in danger.
"A gun is not only there to look good in the holster," he said.
Koll said the state of affairs was a concern.
"Members recently underwent refresher courses to ensure members were
comfortable with their firearms and knew how to use it," said Koll.
Superintendent Michelle Matroos, spokesperson for the provincial
commissioner of the police, commissioner Mpumelelo Landu, said the latter
agreed with safety and security minister Charles Nqakula that there should
be no mercy for criminals who killed police officials.
- Die Burger
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