JMPD ACADEMY OPENING: A PARTNERSHIP PRODUCT

UNCLAS PRETORIA 002619 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL/AAE:JLYLE;EBARCLAY AF/S:MTABLER-STONE; DS/T/ATA; DS/IP/AF JUSTICE FOR ICITAP:EBEINHART SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC EAID ELAB PREL PHUM SF SUBJECT: JMPD ACADEMY OPENING: A PARTNERSHIP PRODUCT ¶1. (U) Summary: In his speech for the official opening of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department's (JMPD) academy, the Chief of Police described it as a "product of our partnership" - a reference to the four-year partnership between the Johannesburg Municipality and the United States. The Chief then narrated a long list of the accomplishments over those years. Mr. Thomas Phakati, a member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety, and speaking on behalf of the Mayor of Johannesburg, highlighted the USG's assistance in sharing best practices for community policing. The Ambassador told the first graduates of the academy that the US is proud of their accomplishments as the best and the brightest. All the officials made it a point to thank the USG for its support and Phakati noted that with the upcoming World Cup games in 2010, JMPD will request further assistance to ensure its officers are prepared. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On July 17, the Ambassador participated in the official opening of the academy of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). The US contributed $500,000 toward the cost of constructing the building. In addition, through the US Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP),the US has provided funding for a senior police advisor since 2003, as well as for various training programs. ¶3. (U) In the absence of the Mayor of Johannesburg, Mr. Thomas Phakati, a member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety, led the official opening of the new police academy. After thanking the USG for its assistance, Phakati told 206 graduating cadets that JMPD and the USG have agreed to share best practices through the provision of a technical advisor, training, and equipment. He highlighted the fact that a peaceful political environment is not possible if crime is rampant. JMPD, Phakati stressed, is interested in a well trained police force that ensures a universal sense of safety and security in South Africa. He cited President Mbeki's speech to the nation last February underlining the fact that crime could undermine South Africa's hard-earned democracy. Phakati also cited the recent ANC policy conference, which noted that police officers must be accountable to the communities they serve. ¶4. (U) Phakati noted that the best place to produce police graduates equal to the task of adopting a policy of total opposition to crime is through JMPD's new academy. He urged the graduates to "go out and claim back our streets." In conclusion, Phakati, turning to the Ambassador, said that as the city of Johannesburg prepares for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, they will approach the USG for assistance in dealing with such a major event and to train JMPD officers to deal with large crowds at similar sporting events. ¶5. (U) Police Chief Chris Ngcobo said that when JMPD was launched in March 2001, they were aware that they were starting a local police department in one of South Africa's largest metropolitan areas. To ensure that a solid and sustainable foundation was laid, Chief Ngcobo approached then US Consul General of Johannesburg, Sue Ford Patrick, which led to the US decision to share best police practices, especially in community policing, with the JMPD. ¶6. (U) Ngcobo then listed several areas of specific assistance that the US provided in this "great partnership" with the City of Johannesburg: -- Provision of a law enforcement technical advisor whose contribution the chief described as "valuable" and having had a "tremendous affect on JMPD's success." -- Supported training for 270 JMPD members at JMPD facilities. -- Executive management courses for some JMPD managers in Africa and in the United States. -- Visit of the deputy director to seven police departments in the US to study best practices in law enforcement, some of which are now being implemented in Johannesburg. -- Attendance by the Police Chief at the two-week "Executive Leadership" course at the FBI Academy, which he said was a "great learning experience." ¶7. (U) Chief Ngcobo said that although the academy was officially opened on July 17, two basic recruit classes have already been completed. (Note: the Chief inducted 206 graduates during the opening ceremony. The other recruits must complete a six-month course in a SAPS training facility before they can receive their diplomas.) In addition, 52 recruits from neighboring municipalities were also trained at the academy. The Chief then noted that it is JMPD's intent to make the academy a regional training center that will include students from other African countries. Before administering the oath of office, the chief concluded his speech by thanking the "government and the people of the United States of America for their assistance in building this academy." ¶8. (U) The Ambassador expressed pleasure that the Municipality of Johannesburg and the USG and people of the United States have collaborated successfully over the years to make a "difference in the lives of ordinary South Africans." The Ambassador noted that the US contributed about 3.5 million rands to the academy and an additional 8.4 million rands in training. The Ambassador highlighted that: 20 JMPD officers attended specialized courses in ILEA Gaborone, JMPD has established a social crime prevention unit to interact with students and communities on traffic safety and crime prevention information; a 20-officer bicycle unit is being formed to assist in patrolling certain areas; JMPD managers have visited US facilities and observed best practices. In addition, 270 officers were trained at the JMPD facility by US trainers. ¶9. (U) The Ambassador singled out the contributions made by special police advisor Willie Pannell to the JMPD over the last three years, sharing his experiences of how the LAPD made Los Angeles a better place to live today. The Ambassador concluded his remarks by praising the JMPD graduates on their accomplishments and noting that their parents and the City of Johannesburg know that they will all do an outstanding job. ¶10. (U) Comment: The City of Johannesburg's public acknowledgement of their fruitful partnership with the United States was sincere and reflects deep appreciation by these officials. There is no doubt that Chief Ngcobo is largely responsible for this, but we could not help noticing the impact SLA Pannell had on the leadership: they acknowledged his contribution as fundamental to their vision of establishing a "world class law enforcement agency." Given JMPD's interest in receiving additional USG training and the South African Police Service (SAPS) recent rejection of assistance, Post believes that it would be prudent to pursue ATA training for metropolitan police departments within Gauteng Province, which includes the JMPD, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni departments. At present, the JMPD actively SIPDIS assists the SAPS by providing officers to staff SAPS stations and joint patrols. The SAPS have also intimated that the metropolitan police forces will eventually be incorporated into the SAPS. In light of their expanding role, ATA training for the metropolitan police makes sense. BOST