Community liaison officer: Victor 'Valdez' Nghilengwa

A community liaison officer bridges the gap between the police and the community, fostering collaboration to identify and solve community issues.

They focus on building trust, enhancing safety and improving the quality of life in neighbourhoods. This role involves being a visible presence, addressing crime and dealing with antisocial behaviour and other quality-of-life issues.

Victor Nghilengwa, known to many as Valdez, serves as a community liaison officer at the Oshana police regional headquarters. With a rank of sergeant, he plays a crucial role in community policing, emphasising proactive problem-solving and community engagement.

Nghilengwa's journey into community policing began when he transferred from the Ongwediva police station to his current subdivision last year.

His duties primarily involve being a visible presence in the community and addressing various issues related to crime and antisocial behaviour. "Community policing is, in essence, a collaboration between the police and the community that identifies and solves community problems," he explained.

Nghilengwa's educational background includes training and experience that have equipped him for his role in community policing.

He emphasised that the heart of community policing is building trust between the police and the community. "As our neighbourhoods grow more diverse and the challenges they face evolve, the traditional reactive approach to policing becomes less effective. This is where community policing steps in," he noted.

The most valuable skills and qualities needed to succeed in community policing, according to Nghilengwa, include good judgment, problem-solving abilities, empathy, compassion, multitasking, courage, resourcefulness, assertiveness, integrity and teamwork.

He believes that these skills can be developed through experience and exposure. "Volunteering at the police station as a reservist, neighbourhood watch, and woman and man network is a great place to start," he advised.

Additionally, gaining work experience in various settings and taking related courses focused on communication and critical thinking can also help develop these skills.

"Community policing has become a focal point of many modern law enforcement strategies, and that is where my passion lies," Nghilengwa said, inspiring others to follow a similar path in law enforcement.