Buitink is new police chief

Hildegard Buitink was recently sworn in as the new commander of the Police Corps Caribbean Netherlands on Bonaire. She succeeds Jan Rooijakker, who will retire on August 1. Buitink took the oath before Director-General of the Dutch Ministry of Safety Sandor Gaastra, who, on June 15, was appointed by the Minister of Safety and Justice as Mandated Corps Manager. The transfer of command took place symbolically with departing Commander Rooijakker handing the corps flag to Buitink.
In his speech, Corps Manager Gaastra said the following about her: “The new commander is an experienced police officer who was responsible for the criminal investigation process on the Zeeland islands in the province Zeeland until recently. In her last function, she worked in the staff of the corps commander of the new National Police.” Teamwork and respect for each other, as well as for the culture on the islands, were the main points in Buitink’s acceptance speech. She emphasised her wish to gladly continue the good and respectful collaboration between the Police Corps Caribbean Netherlands and the National Police, the Royal Military Police (“Marechaussee”), the various countries in the Kingdom, other partners, foundations and organisations represented locally. She also sets great store by working together with the citizens. “In the intake and tracking processes, attention for the safety of the citizens behind the front door, at work and on the street is important. I also want to involve the citizens actively in this,” said the new corps commander. Buitink promised to show respect for the cultures on the three islands.
Simultaneously, the corps bid an official farewell to Rooijakker, who will retire on August 1 after having shown the new corps commander the ropes. He looks back with satisfaction on his period as police chief for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, although he didn’t achieve everything he had intended to. He was the first commander of the Police Corps BES in the transitional period and later, the Police Corps Caribbean Netherlands. He said a corps working on three islands is a real challenge, whereby Saba and St. Eustatius are located some 900 kilometres from Bonaire. However, there were more challenges, such as improving the esteem of the police with the population, the strengthening of the police force and the reorganisation of the corps. “After almost three years, I can say that we’re well on our way, but we’re not there yet.” “Nevertheless, the new commander has a corps with colleagues willing to help build up the corps. That cooperation is an absolute condition to guarantee the building up and renewal of the corps,” said Rooijakker.
Source: “The Daily Herald” 3013-07-09