Police judge Peter d’Hondt retires after 31 years: « A powerful voice for change » (Dendermonde)

« Strict, but just, and a powerful voice for change, » Peter D’hondt was described during his last session as a police judge in Dendermonde. « I made both friends and enemies, but we have achieved that Dendermonde was the first district of halving to have a halving of the number of traffic victims, » ​​D’Hondt looks back with satisfaction.

It came somewhat like a surprise, but police judge Peter d’Hondt is retiring. He started his career as a lawyer, but since 1994 he has been in the Dendermonde district as a police judge. Friday, 31 years later, it was his last session and of course that did not go unnoticed.

Strict but just

Chairman of Peace Courts and Police Court East Flanders Jan Kamoen took the floor there at the start. « Someone with a special view of the court, who is not shy for a bold pronunciation, but always slipping the folds in a diplomatic way. Strict, but fair, and always a powerful voice for change, » he described his colleague. « By pursuing a powerful policy, you became the face of road safety in our district with a reputation that speaks volumes. Many never want to see Peter d’Hondt again, but others got your lives on the rails again. There was only one figure that counted: the number of traffic eagles. »

Ground level

Jan Kamoen was joined by the chairman of the Dendermonde desk. « You were an important voice in the debate on road safety. You dared to stick out your head above ground level, and we need that, » said Johan van Wilder.

His colleagues Siegried Stallaert, the Aalst police judge, also dropped to Dendermonde on Friday. Among other things, he gave an anthology of his famous One-Liners, where he regularly quoted Oscar Wilde. « Sometimes one has to be a saint, but sometimes also a sinner, » Stallaert gave as an example. « In other words, you have shifted stones and that was sometimes kicked against Schenen. One thing is certain: road safety was associated with one person, and that was you. »

“You were an important voice in road safety debate. You dared to protrude your head above ground level, and we need that”

Johan van Wilder

Champion Balie Dendermonde

Commitment

Peter d’Hondt appreciated the words of his colleagues. « I’ve never been quiet for so long during the session, » he joked. « I have always done my best in my career, and I realize that I have made friends, but also enemies. But someone who wants to be popular must choose another job and not do criminal law. He also highlighted his commitment. « We did not work colorless and low profile. We were the first district here in Belgium to halve the number of traffic victims, » ​​he looked back before he turned to the order of the day.

D’Hondt, however, does not disappear completely in the background. He remains as a magistrate, where he will mainly work advising. However, he does not rule out the fact that he occasionally was returning to his familiar biotope as a deputy police judge.