Fighting crime halfway around the world isn’t much different than catching crooks here, said a South African police official who visited the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office this week.
"It’s only the names that differ. The approach is the same," said Mauritz Bester, a police superintendent who supervises 160 officers in Stilfontein, about 320 miles south of Johannesburg.
"The issues that other communities are dealing with, like auto theft and breaking and entering, are common in South Africa also."
Bester stayed with Sheriff Rick Bart during his five-day visit to Everett. Bester and a lawyer, a rancher, a teacher and a scientist from South Africa also visited Marysville and British Columbia through a Rotary International exchange program.
Bester, who supervises 32 police stations, toured the sheriff’s office and discussed law enforcement trends and technology.
New technology is making it easier for officers to do their jobs, he said. His agency, the South African Police Service, uses a crime-mapping program daily to track and respond to spikes in crimes.
That’s something the sheriff’s office would like to add, Lt. Jeff Brand said.
"We’re learning a lot from each other," Brand said. "All of us have the same kind of problems in our jurisdiction, and I like hearing what they’re doing."
Bester said he’d like to add computers to his officers’ patrol cars similar to those used by sheriff’s deputies here.
But the key to fighting crime, Bester and the sheriff agreed, is the same worldwide: community involvement.
"In South Africa, our approach is, the community is the priority," said Bester, whose area serves about 400,000 people.
"What you’re talking about is identical to our mission statement," Brand responded. "It’s nice to hear that there’s other agencies in other communities headed that way."
Bart added, "I’ve learned a lot about community policing from him. I’ll probably be using some of what they do."
Bester and the other visitors from South Africa will return May 17. Before they leave, they’ll give a presentation to the Everett Rotary Club about their country. Bester will also visit the Everett Police Department next week.
More than 1 million people have visited countries throughout the world through Rotary’s group study exchange, said Everett Fire Marshal Warren Burns, a Rotary member who went to Australia in 1999.
"I’m fortunate to be part of this whole program," Bester said. "The most important thing is to learn from other people and build relationships so we can help each other."
Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or schiffner@heraldnet.com.
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