WHEN I read the paper and watch the news, 99 per cent of stories involving police are serious and, to be honest, quite depressing.
Friends often say “I couldn’t do your job”. I find myself repeating those words back to teachers, nurses, vets and other professions.
I admit there are a lot of things we do that are stressful, dangerous and terribly depressing. But let me tell you, we get a lot of laughs.
One such moment was when I was asked to collect a mobility scooter for another police member.
The driver of the scooter was quite alcohol-affected and collided with several items on the footpath, leaving a path of destruction.
We couldn’t allow him to continue on the scooter and I was asked to take it to the police station for safekeeping.
So, picture a uniformed police officer driving a mobility scooter along Langtree Avenue.
So many people stopped and stared.
Not the best day in my career, that is for sure, and I have no doubt some of the onlookers were wondering whether there had been budget cuts.
One task that police are called on to do is taking care of animals that have been hit on the road.
Sometimes we can’t help the poor animal.
On one occasion, a colleague attended an injured kangaroo. Sadly, the roo didn’t make it.
His offsider reminded him to check the pouch for a joey before they left.
Although the mother may pass away, joeys can live for a short time.
Well, our studious constable found a tail and was pulling the joey out of the pouch.
This was a joey like no other. It didn’t want to come out.
Our constable was trying harder and harder until his offsider pointed out it was, in fact, a male kangaroo.
It never ceases to amaze me why some people call police.
I recently took a call from a 10-year-old who wanted police to come along because his parents took his gaming console off him.
He did admit to not doing his chores and it was suggested that he clean his room up and ask nicely.
I never had a call back, so it’s fair to say he is back to his gaming.
On another occasion, I had a call from someone angry because they couldn’t get a particular channel on their television.
We get a lot of training, but it never covered that.
My inner child is alive and well.
When faced with a missing six-year-old in a large clothing store, I resorted to thinking back to when I was six – it wasn’t hard!
I asked myself, if I were six, where would I hide?
I found myself looking through many clothing racks on the floor he was last seen.
Lo and behold, I parted a lovely couple of blouses and there was a little face staring at me.
His mother was overjoyed and I had to fess up to how I managed to find him.
It is always lovely when people come up to us when we are on patrol and thank us.
It means a lot and makes the hard times worthwhile.
I have one request to parents. Please don’t tell your child, “They will arrest you if you are naughty”.
We want them to feel safe and know who to go to for help. Come and say hi.
It is a tough job at times, but it never gets boring.
