One of Kraaifontein police’s longest serving policeman, Warrant Officer Michael de Jager, has closed the curtains on a career that spanned almost four decades.
He has served 38 years, in a career that began at the Woodstock police station, where he worked for seven years.
He also had a short stint at the Cape Town police station before he returned to Kraaifontein, where he grew up.
Speaking from his Brackenfell home, he recalls solving a gang-related double murder in Scottsdene in 2003.
His lengthy investigation eventually put the two killers away for 12 years.
“I have no big plans. The immediate plan is to take some time off and hang with my wife,” he says. “At the moment, I will be just taking it easy, and maybe go to a holiday.”
He chose the profession, he says, because it was a good career choice at the time and he wanted to serve his country.
“I was looking for an adventure and, boy, I found one. This has been the only job I have known having worked as a policeman straight after high school.”
The highlight of his career was serving as a detective for five years from 2005. The downside of the job is the mental and emotional toll, he says.
He said farewell to his colleagues at the end of last month, and Kraaifontein police spokesman Captain Hein Hendricks wished him well, saying: “Warrant, it’s time to kick back and enjoy. You’ve earned it! We will most certainly miss you. Best wishes in your retirement.”