The possibility of facing danger or tragedy is a daily reality for police officers and we shouldn’t take the work they do for granted.
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Today is National Police Remembrance Day, a time to think of the men and women who have died keeping communities like Maitland safe.
But while it’s a day to remember those who have died in the line of duty, as a community we should also reflect on the risks and horrors police officers face each day and the toll that can take.
They are human beings doing a tough job that society couldn’t do without. When somebody dies in a car crash, it’s a police officer who tells the family.
When someone threatens to hurt another person, it’s the police who put themselves in harm’s way to try to stop a tragedy.
Central Hunter crime manager Detective Inspector John Zdrilic, an officer of high accomplishment, reminded us today that the things police see and do can trigger mental health problems that have led to a high rate of suicide among people in the profession.
He said policing was a unique job that sent people towards harm, while others were fleeing it.
Facing the prospect of this danger each day can become too much for some people.
While today is a special day to remember police who have given their lives for the community’s safety, living officers deserve our respect every day.
They save lives and keep us from harm on a daily basis by stopping drink drivers, intervening in domestic disputes, finding lost children and countless other ways.
They do vital work that many of us aren’t cut out for. It’s far from the easy path, so spare a thought for them today.
