With a delightful double entendre that encapsulates the best of the message behind the Star Wars series, Senior Constable Alex Cooney from NSW takes a stand that we would hope all police officers would take.
We would indeed hope that the police force would stand on the side of the right use ness of that force to ensure the safety of the public.
Everything we do at New Zealand Police is about
ensuring people are safe and feel safe.
It could be argued that they are upholding that focus with the current fear of the virus. But it could also be argued that the primary force of terror at the moment is our government and its relentless unwillingness to listen to science that is opposed to its fear mongering stance.
In the latter scenario, we have to question if it is our government we need to be protected from? If that is so, then the police must be the force that is with the people, to be in line with their own values.
This is beginning to be evidenced around the world, as brave police officers take a stand.
In Australia Senior Constable Alex Cooney may have been ‘talked to’ but he would not be silenced, as evidenced by his Second Letter.
I encourage you to read the full version of his First Letter that was sent to the NSW Police Commissioner.
While in Spain the police force seems to be responding in more of a wholesale fashion as witnessed in Valencia and Malaga in recent months. Both beautiful cities we visited when we were free to travel.
I can only say – may the Force be with the police forces in all our nations for the sake of humanity, so that we can live freely once more.