Operators’ pride
A job as a police communications operator is scarcely a free
ride in luxurious office furniture and air-conditioned work space. Few roles in
police work, other than those in operational fields, bear such a weight of
responsibility.
To operational police officers in the field, radio operators
can be the key to their very survival – any day of the week. For what
other reason would cops refer to the police radio as their lifeline?
Who sees that operational cops receive back-up in high risk
incidents? Who makes sure the cavalry responds instantly to 801 (police in
trouble) calls? Who makes it their mission to ensure that patrols are
constantly accounted for and safe?
The answer in every case is the police communications centre
operators. To the great fortune of those in the field, they give a damn and, as
Constable Kate Curyer said in The communicators, they take pride in
their work.
It would indeed be unjust to view the work of operators with
any measure of cynicism. Those who take on the challenge of communications work
not only serve their colleagues, but also uphold the great nerve centre of the
entire police organization.
The Police Journal wishes all operators well in their
new facility and congratulates them on their work.
Cops’ image endangered
When British police superintendent, Mick Matthews, came to
Adelaide on an exchange programme last year, he condemned popular ABC police
drama, The Bill.
No doubt some were aghast at his scathing critique,
particularly in light of the programme’s broad popularity in Australia.
But few probably took account of the fact that his assessment
was likely based on episodes just screening in Australia now. To watch them is
to see clearly the justification for Supt Matthews’ condemnation.
The storylines have degenerated into little more than soap
opera that resembles nothing of the reality of police life. That is not to
suggest the programme is no longer entertaining, but it probably does no police
officer any favours insofar as image is concerned.
Consider the likelihood of some of the current scenarios. A
despised detective sergeant has fallen pregnant to her scheming superintendent,
who has assaulted her at work. A hardline uniformed constable, who firebombed
his own station, is being pursued by a white supremacist – from inside
prison. With one of his detective constables, a detective chief inspector is
attempting to plot the downfall of the station OC. It is all harmless
television entertainment, some might argue.
But others can be hard to convince that art does not always
imitate life.
