July 2001 Volume 82 Number 7
"serving the protectors"
| July 2001 Volume 82 Number 7 "serving the protectors" |
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Homage To Hank Ramm |
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| By John Ballantyne |
It is a rare thing when no one has a bad thing to say about the boss. Such an occasion was the tribute luncheon to honour Police Prosecution’s former officer-in-charge, Superintendent M.A. “Hank” Ramm.
An impressive array of Ramm’s police colleagues - not to mention the Chief Magistrate, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other leading lights of the legal profession - attended the special send-off in the PASA building’s Fenwick Hall on May 18.
The huge turn-out would have been remarkable if Ramm had been retiring. As it was, he was only moving to a new position in SAPOL.
Master-of-ceremonies, Senior Sergeant Chas McCormick - who worked under Ramm in Prosecutions - reviewed Ramm’s distinguished and long-serving career, which included city beats, country postings, being a police academy trainer, and latterly heading Prosecutions.
The first of the guest speakers, Acting Assistant Commissioner John Dicker, said that “it’s very hard to fault Hank on anything”. He described him as “generous, honest, caring and courageous”, and said that his “meticulous and analytical” qualities would be especially valued in his new posting in SAPOL.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul Rofe QC, looking around at the crowd of well-wishers in Fenwick Hall, joked, “I’m glad you’re not retiring, Hank. We wouldn’t have been able to fit them all in. Or imagine if you were to die - that would be even worse.”
Rofe expressed his gratitude for Ramm’s friendship and support. He praised Ramm’s integrity and loyalty, and particularly his knack of being able to resolve tensions. He said, “Hank has always been there for me, and I hope that I’ve been there for him as well.”
To this Rofe added: “Hank’s concern always has been first and foremost for his staff. He’s always had their interest at the forefront.”
Chief Magistrate Allan Moss said that one of the particular pleasures of his position was his regular meetings with Ramm. He said, “No matter what the issue was, I cannot remember one occasion where we didn’t end up laughing - and fairly uproariously at that.”
Moss praised Ramm for his straightforwardness.
“Hank always tells it how it is,” he said. “I must say that in all the years I’ve known him - which is a lot - I’ve never been in any doubt whatsoever about his point of view of the issue under discussion. But notwithstanding that, Hank remains eternally courteous.
“Sometimes, people get a bit confused by Hank. He can be a bit sort of Dad-and-Dave in his presentation. But I think you all know that that hides what is in fact a very sharp mind, and there are not many issues that Hank has had to grasp, in my experience, that he hasn’t quickly got on top of...
“And, whenever I’ve been dealing with him, I know that his support for his staff has been just terrific.”
A senior official from the Crown Solicitor’s officer, Peter Wilson, remarked:
“It’s interesting to hear the previous speakers, how there seems to be a theme running through.
“In legal circles you would argue that we’ve all put our heads together and said, ‘all right, Hank is this sort of a person’. I can tell you that hasn’t happened. It’s the same theme that’s coming through all the various speakers.”
Wilson praised Ramm for being a “straight-shooter”. He said: “What you see is what you get. There’s no sort of deviousness about him at all. And if there was any problem that we had, Hank and I could always talk frankly about that and that could always easily be overcome...
“Hank has always been a gentleman. Is that correct to say in these gender-politically-correct circumstances? But I think you know what I mean. He always has been a real thorough gentleman, and Hank has been an independent thinker... I think that’s always an asset. But I don’t know how that quality has gone down with his employers.”
Lawyer and ex-police officer, Michael Woods, gave what he called “a few words on behalf of the defence”, and reiterated his colleagues’ sentiments.
“Hank,” he said, “from a defence perspective, has always been very, very approachable.”
Woods recalled that, when he was in the police, “there was a bit of a standing joke that once someone became a commissioned officer, they went away to have this mysterious operation where a lobotomy was undertaken, and a number of reprogramming exercises performed.
“And people forgot their past, and perhaps suddenly came out with a different perspective on life.
“I’m pleased to say that Hank is someone who has never ever taken that approach. He actually destroys that myth - thank goodness.
“He’s been very, very open to both sides, with police prosecutors in trouble, (or) whether it was defence people who wanted to talk to him. And he’s always opened his door to people. He’s never stood behind his rank.”
At then end of the tributes, Ramm’s colleagues presented him with an inscribed shield to commemorate his time in Prosecutions, a gift of fine wine, and a card signed by well-wishers
In response, Ramm said: “This is uncalled for, but greatly appreciated.
“The card would have been absolutely sufficient with your names on it as a memory of your attendance and the great times we’ve had together.”
Ramm thanked his wife Margaret for her unstinting support over the years and spoke about the overseas trip they were about to make to England to visit one of their two sons, before he (Ramm) took up his new appointment.
He especially thanked the Police Association for giving “support for police in Prosecutions to improve their lot in life and in the service”.
To his colleagues and well-wishers he said: “What you said about me makes me feel humble. And I could always have done more. I know that.”
Ramm concluded with some words of advice:
“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember - amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic
“I hope to keep floating along in the Ark and come to ground on really safe and dry ground in the presence of the Lord.
“Thank you very much for being here. It’s great to see you all.”
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