LORD, I ask for courage –
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Courage to face and conquer my own fears...
Courage to take me where others will not go.
I ask for strength –
Strength of body to protect others...
Strength of spirit to lead others.
I ask for dedication –
Dedication to my job and to do it well...
Dedication to my community to keep it safe.
Give me Lord, concern –
For all those who trust me...
A compassion for those who need me...
And, please, Lord, through it all, be at my side.
– A Police Officer’s Prayer
This prayer was recited hundreds of times over on Monday as Australia marked National Police Remembrance Day, a day of tribute for fallen officers.
About 100 people gathered at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Sturt Street where past and present Victoria Police members joined family, friends and members of the Ballarat community to reflect on the brave men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Each and every day, thousands of brave men and women proudly don their uniforms and put themselves in danger to keep our communities safe.
These police officers face risks, where they may find themselves in dangerous situations and often without warning.
Such was the fate of Maryborough policeman Maurice Moore, who, on September 27, 1986, was overpowered by a man after the vehicle he was in was stopped in Brougham Street, Maryborough.
The man shot and killed Senior Constable Moore with his own police issue revolver.
Also killed on the job in Ballarat were Detective Senior Constable Doug Mathers, who died in a car crash while working, and Senior Sergeant Harold Dawson,
who also died in a crash on his way to work.
While also facing the same daily challenges and trials as the rest of the community, these brave men and women leave their homes each day not knowing what disasters lay before them, what tragedies
they must face and what dangers may be around each and every corner.
They go about their business of protecting the community under the constant concern of being verbally abused, physically attacked or worse.
These brave men and women should be given the respect to be able to go about their job of helping others, of making the community safe without constant fear of being attacked for just doing their job.