A Job Like No Other

It has been a sad week for members of the Police Service, not just here in the UK, but around the world.
A siege in Sydney left three people dead and a policeman injured. In Liverpool, three off duty policemen were attacked whilst on a Christmas night out and one sadly died of his injuries. It has been reported they were recognised as being policemen and so targeted. In New York, two police officers were assassinated whilst sitting in their patrol car. A number of police officers were stabbed and seriously injured in the 'safety' of their police station, in Tours, France.

Reports of police officers being injured or killed are bad any time of the year but, like any bad news stories, they always seems worse during the Christmas period when traditionally it's about festivities, families being together and we're meant to 'spread goodwill to all men'.

I was in Merseyside Police Special Constabulary 25 years ago and most of my colleagues joined up to be regular police officers and I know some are still in the job.
At that time, I was in an office job earning good money for what I did and didn't really think about making a career out of it. I was happy being a "hobby bobby".
Fast forward 25 years and I'm still working in an office and earning more money than police constables. The only risks I take are walking to work (and the hope I'm not hit by a bus) or the odd mild electric shock.
The police face life threatening dangers every time they go to work or, as in the case of PC Neil Doyle, being recognised on a night out enjoying himself with his mates.
No amount of training can guard you of a random attack by a gang of thugs.

In September 2012, two female police officers working for Greater Manchester Police, Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone were lured to their deaths with a false report of a burglary. News reports stated they were shot 13 times and blown up by a grenade. Again, what amount of training can prepare you for that?

"Hill Street Blues" is still famous for its weekly quote "Let's be careful out there". These words have never seemed more important.

My thoughts go out to the officers' killed for doing their jobs and my thanks go out to all members of the Police Service for doing a dangerous job in dangerous times.