November 2002 Volume 83 Number 11
"serving the protectors"
| November 2002 Volume 83 Number 11 "serving the protectors" |
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Just about every Australian woke on a Sunday morning last month to the tragic news of the bombings in Bali. The viciousness of the unprovoked attack, and the sheer cowardice of its perpetrators, seemed instantly evident.
As we learned that, from the blasts, Australia had emerged with the highest number of dead, our hearts sunk. To Australians, October 12 seemed destined to become a date as significant and unforgettable as did September 11 to the world.
And, to the September 11 attacks on America, the scene at the Kuta Beach nightclub area bore a deeply sad and striking resemblance.
But just as police officers featured so strongly in America’s great tragedy, so, too, have Australia’s cops stepped up in Bali. From across Australia, dedicated police – who left their homes and families at virtually a moment’s notice – are now contributing their expertise to the investigation.
This willingness to serve beyond one’s borders, with a deep spirit of service, is nothing new to Australian cops. They have, over many years, served in faraway troubled lands, such as Cyprus in the 1970s and, more recently, East Timor, where they continue to serve.
All Australians who remain here at home, uninvolved in the aftermath of the bombings, should not only be proud of their police, but also offer them every support.
Those close to the police community have long known how far Australian cops are prepared to travel to give of themselves. The people of yet another country, Indonesia, would by now have discovered that same Aussie police selflessness.
The Police Journalwishes all the contributing Australian police officers, as well as those from other countries, good health and every success in the investigation.
As disasters go, few rate as worse than the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US. But, again, members of the Australian police family came to the fore with many forms of support for their American counterparts.
One of their most worthy contributions, as reported in Police Federation of Australia donates to September 11 appeal, came in the form of a cheque for more than $128,000. New York City detective, Jeffrey Vlack, gratefully accepted the donation.
That the great physical distance that separates our two countries serves as no barrier to the emotional bond between Australian and US police is indeed an inspiration.
In many international crises, such bonds emerge as priceless.
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