When a police officer reports for duty he/she dons on the cloak of a mother, father, social worker, law enforcer and many times a gynaecologist. Situations arise that warrant immediate action and society look upon a police officer as ‘the jack of all trades and a saviour in times of crisis. In most cases, no matter the circumstances, our men and women in blue emerge victorious by showing that ’we can do it.’
It would seem that playing ’doctor’ and delivering babies while in police uniform appears to be part of W/O Roderick Middelkamp’s daily routine. For the fourth time, SAPS Despatch’s brave police officer came to the aid of a pregnant mother during the early hours of this morning, 01 March 2022. At about 04:20, while busy with crime prevention patrols, W/O Middelkamp was contacted by a distraught community member urgently seeking his assistance with a woman that was about to give birth at home.
Immediately and without hesitation, the police officer rushed to a house in Goosen Street in Despatch. The 31-year-old mother-to-be was in the advanced stages of labour. Remaining very calm, he assured the mother that everything was going to be fine and within five minutes, he adroitly delivered a bonny baby girl. By the time the ambulance arrived, both mother and baby were fine.
The 50-year-old police officer with over 30 years of service in the SAPS, proudly boasted that this was his fourth baby (all girls) that he had delivered while at SAPS Despatch.
