IT’S NOT every day that family members follow in each other’s footsteps and pursue a similar career path.
But the SAPS really is a family business for the Hendricks brothers from Cape Town. Talk about long service members, the trio together boast an impressive total of 77 years’ service on the force.
Mervyn is the eldest. He's 48 and occupies the rank of sergeant.
Craig, 46, is a detective warrant officer and 45-year-old Brandon is also a sergeant.
The siblings have an interesting journey into the world of law enforcement.
Brandon, who is popularly known as Baba, recalled a particular incident in the 90s at their Atlantis home, that would ultimately lead to their joining SAPS.
“One morning early my dad woke us up. He said there were intruders at our church next door. We apprehended the burglars. And that's when my two brothers decided they're joining the force,” he said.
Mervyn and Craig signed up as police reservists in 1995.
“They told me how interesting and exciting it was. I am not sure at that age they knew just how dangerous it actually was. And then a year later I decided to follow in their footsteps,” said Brandon
Later, they made permanent careers as crime-busters patrolling the streets. Today, their respective lines of work are so different.
Mervyn is based at the provincial training centre in Pinelands and is the training officer and fitness instructor.
“I have passion for training and I have a love for teaching my own members certain skills to empower themselves and for their own betterment,” he said proudly.
Craig is stationed at Atlantis police station where he is the group head of detectives.
“My work centres on investigating serious and violent crime. And I am also doing the tracing of all suspects wanted by police. I am also doing inspection of dockets of junior members under me and I handle the feedback to the provincial office for the tracing operations we've done, including fingerprints found at crime scenes,” he said.
Brandon reports for duty every day at the SAPS provincial training department. He works in the human resources development unit and is responsible for members' computer training.
Mervyn said he always wanted to be a cop. “I wanted to join the force right after high school. But my parents wanted me to study further,” he explained. “So I went to study a business course. But due to financial circumstances, I couldn't finish my studies. So I went to work in a factory and joined the reservist force. And there my love for the police just got stronger and stronger. Then I decided I want this as a permanent career. This was a calling for me.”
Craig, meanwhile, had no ambitions of being a police officer growing up. “I wanted to be an accountant. But it was hard growing up ... there weren't funds for us to study further, I started working at Unita furniture in the Atlantis Industrial area after high school, I was a despatch clerk.”
During his time as a reservist, Craig said: “My passion just grew to join the police full time. And to this day, I don't regret it. I am very happy in the South African Police Service and what they have done for me. I love my job.”
Craig talks with so much pride and committed to his work.
“I also work shifts as a duty officer, which means if there is a crime scene, I will come out and take command at the crime scene. And then I send a report to our cluster or provincial office. I conduct parades and inspect the members to see if they are operationally ready. And I testify in court, subpoena witnesses.”
When the Hendricks brothers get together, they spend all of five minutes talking shop, “catching up on work”, then it is straight to the business of sport. They support different Premier League football teams – Craig's loyalties lie with Liverpool, Mervyn cheers for Tottenham Hotspur, while Brandon is a Manchester United fan.
So you can well imagine the uncomfortable atmosphere last week when Man United thrashed Spurs. Mervyn said: “I was teased on the family WhatsApp group, but I just ignored them.”
For anyone who's thought about becoming cops, the Hendricks brothers are your go-to-guys for advice.
“We need people who are really committed, to join the police force,” said Mervyn. “People’s feelings towards the police is not like it used to be. People are negative towards the police. But that shouldn’t stop anyone who has dreams of joining the police. You need a passion and love of working with people.”
Craig added: “Young people who have ambitions of joining the police, join the police. Yes you will hear stories of corruption, and you will hear about negativity, but you will hear that everywhere. Don’t let that drag you down. Stand tall, stand firm.
“Do your best. That is what I do. I don't see this only as a job, I see this as my calling. If you see this job in the South African police only as a pay day, then you're in the wrong line of work.”
Those familiar with the popular American crime drama, will easily be able to draw parallels with the Regan family and the Hendrickses.
The Regans are a family of law enforcement veterans from New York City. Father Frank Regan, played by Tom Selleck, is the police commissioner, a position his dad held before him. Sons Danny and Jamie are officers on the force. But theirs is a fictitious story.
Mervyn, Craig and Brandon, from Atlantis, are the real deal. They’re real life brothers in law.