Apr 2001 Volume 82 Number 4
"serving the protectors"
| Apr 2001 Volume 82 Number 4 "serving the protectors" |
|
|
|
|
| by Andy Dunn |
Valuable timeout
Time away from high-pressure occupations like police work proves, for most, to be both therapeutic and intellectually enriching. Be it a sabbatical – traditionally granted to academics after seven years’ service – or some form of unpaid leave, the benefits are clear.
The officers featured in Back in the Job said their timeout from policing made them better people, and was a great journey and learning experience. They also found themselves possessed of a new calmness and better able to relate to people.
As well, they each seemed – after their return to SAPOL – to view police work with renewed enthusiasm.
And, enthusiastic police, with strongly enhanced characters – brought about by time spent in non-police environments – are of obvious benefit to their employers.
The accounts of these and other officers are invaluable. They (the accounts) send clear messages to all police departments, which must explore means by which to accommodate officers in need of this proven type of inner rejuvenation.
After all, why would an employer not want to release an employee for a time to have him or her return a new person of probably twice the value to the workplace?
Painful loss
Australia’s entire police community was overwhelming saddened by the deaths of four West Australian police officers killed in a light plane crash in late January.
The officers – who ranged in age from 27 to 49 – were returning from a job in a remote Aboriginal community.
Emotionally agonizing for WA police is that, as they harbour the painful memory of losing their colleagues, they must nonetheless maintain their service to the public.
The Police Journal extends it deepest sympathy to the friends, families and colleagues of the officers so tragically killed.
Anzac memorial
The Police Anzac Memorial Service is not a commemoration of high profile. Nonetheless, it remains greatly significant to the friends and relatives of police officers who served and died in war.
After last year’s service, Police Association president, Peter Alexander, told the Police Journal that:
People had to break their police service to go and serve overseas, not knowing if they’d come back. And many did not come back. I don’t think you should live in history, but you should learn from it. Services like this one promote that learning.
The agrees with these sentiments and encourages both police and the public to attend this year’s service on April 22.
|
||||||||||
|
The Police Journal Online is an
official publication of the Police Association of South Australia and is
published monthly. Editors of kindred publications can seek permission from the Editor to re-publish any Police Journal Online article. Copyright 2001 The Police Association of South Australia sustance |