July 1999 Volume 80 Number 7 "serving the protectors"
Editorial
By Andy Dunn  editor@pasa.asn.au

Injustice Thrives

Stories of injustice inflicted upon innocent police officers by government instrumentalities are shamefully abundant in Australia. Many such stories have been brought to both police and the SA community through the Police Journal.

The most recent shameful assault on police officers’ privacy, integrity and human rights has occurred in Canberra. Australian Federal Police agents will, under new legislation, be forced to submit to drug tests and have their finances examined.

It is disappointing that some governments continue, for no just or proper cause, to force police to forever prove their innocence. In some governments’ cases, this behaviour is obsessional.

These irrational governmental actions continually place police officers in a false purgatory, where some never regard them as “clean”. The greatest disservice in this scenario is to the community.

And members of governments that treat police so contemptuously are, at the same time, happy to sleep under the blanket of protection they (police) provide.

Forever Remembered

These columns often highlight the work of police officers who selflessly serve the community outside of their paid duty. Philanthropy and compassion for the disadvantaged have always been abundant among police ranks.

And this year’s Bluey Day is a classic example of the manifestation of police officers’ charitable nature. Bluey Day - in which both male and female police officers allow their heads to be shaved in public - has enjoyed strong police participation for five years.

As revealed in our story, Cops inspired by Child Bravery, many SA police will carry an emotional memory through the August 21 fundraiser this year. This memory is that of a young boy whose battle with cancer was lost before he even turned eight.

Josh Ritchie will live forever in the hearts of the police he touched. And as the generous, merciful people they are, those police will continue their good works for the benefit of many more child cancer sufferers. In that endeavour the Police Journal wholeheartedly supports them.

Give Tragedy Its Due Coverage

The on-duty death of New Zealand police officer, Murray Stretch, was a tragic blow to all police communities. Stretch’s family and the New Zealand police force remain devastated by their loss.

Police associations and services came by the news of Stretch’s death by way of their own networking. It was the distribution of that information which allowed Australian police association officials to decide upon and plan their attendance at Stretch’s funeral, as reported in Australian Police Unionists Honour Slain New Zealand Policeman.

Those not associated with police, however, were afforded little or no opportunity by the mainstream press to learn of Stretch’s death. It seemed that both the print and electronic media saw no gain in informing the wider community of the bashing death of a police officer in one of our nearest neighbouring countries.

One would hope that the Australian press isn’t operating on the basis that, if international news items don’t appear on CNN or BBC World Service, they are not essential consumption for Australian audiences.

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