On almost a daily basis, their job brings them into contact with the kind of incidents most of us would like to avoid seeing for the whole of our lives.
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I refer, of course, to police officers, who are in the front line along with paramedics, firefighters, child protection workers and many others who put themselves at risk in an attempt to make life a bit better for the rest of us.
Every year – on September 29 – Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Solomon Islands mark National Police Remembrance Day.
The date was chosen as it is traditionally the feast day for St Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of police. St Michael is recognised as an archangel by the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths.
The day, which this year fell on Tuesday, allows police officers to pause and honour those men and women whose lives were lost in the line of duty.
On Tuesday, police, politicians and the families of fallen officers attended a memorial service at The Domain in Sydney.
Since the NSW Police Force was first formed in 1862 there have been 252 officers who have died in the line of duty, News Ltd papers have reported.
“No tribute or salute can ease the pain of those who have lost their loved ones in the line of duty,” the papers quoted NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione as saying.
Among those who were remembered was Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson, who was killed in a knife attack in Sydney in December, 2012.
Insp Anderson had gone to Fiona and Mitchell Barbieri’s rural Oakville property in Sydney’s northwest on December 6, 2012, after reports Mitchell had been firing arrows at his neighbour.
After a protracted siege at the home, Barbieri lunged toward Insp Anderson, plunging a hunting knife deep into the officer’s chest and causing his almost immediate death, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Only months before Insp Anderson died, Senior Constable David Rixon was shot dead after pulling Michael Allan Jacobs over for a breath test near Tamworth.
Sen-Constable Rixon was shot once in the chest with a bullet fired from a .38 calibre revolver after approaching Jacobs’ stopped Holden Statesman for a random breath test early on March 2, 2012.
The policeman returned fire and hit Jacobs three times. Sen-Const Rixon was also able to handcuff Jacobs, who later became the first person to be convicted of murdering a police office after legislation was introduced in 2011 to ensure the offence carried a punishment of life without parole.
Most of us in smaller communities know at least one police officer – indeed I count a couple as good mates – and recognise the difficult job they face.
I’m sure there are few of us who don’t thank the heavens for the many men and women who are willing to deal daily with the stuff the rest of us never want to encounter.
So this week, on the back of National Police Remembrance Day, it’s timely to stop and think – not only about the good work police officers do – but also of the sacrifices made by their families who live with the risks, too.
It’s a tough job and one I certainly couldn’t do, so I’m damned grateful there are people who are willing to put their lives on the line for others.
What was the bumper sticker that was around a while back? Cops are Tops?