“Band of Brothers” Show Support By Wearing Wristbands
Members of the thin blue line are wearing a thin blue band to support Gold Coast colleague Chris Hurley, who has been charged over the death in custody of a Palm Island man.
The number 6747 is stamped on the band, which is in the police blue colour — it is Senior Sergeant Hurley’s police registered number.
Within days most, if not all, of Queensland’s 9300 police officers will be sporting the wrist-band as a show of solidarity for Sen-Sgt Hurley, who has been charged with manslaughter and assault over the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee in November, 2004.
Queensland Police Union vice-president Denis Fitzpatrick yesterday said the wrist-band was the brainchild of a Metropolitan South police officer attached to the public safety response team.
“The union thought it was a brilliant idea and we have purchased a few thousand of them,” he said.
“They are a silent protest, a sign of solidarity plus a fundraiser for Sen-Sgt Hurley’s legal costs. You can buy them at most police stations for $5 and they are selling like hot cakes and we will have to order more.”
He said about 140 officers turned up in Ipswich yesterday in the last of the first round of union meetings around the state over the case.
The union is likely to hold another meeting on the Gold Coast next week to update members about the latest developments in the issue. Mr Fitzpatrick said one new motion was carried in Ipswich yesterday.
“They have asked that the (police) commissioner bring police staff levels in remote Aboriginal communities up to safe levels,” he said.
“There is one Aboriginal community with 1200 people and only two officers to police it 24 hours a day, seven days a week and there are a number of issues in that community with alcohol and substance abuse.”
Mr Fitzpatrick said the police union executive would meet over the next few days to ‘plan the next move’.
“A march on Parliament is still on the books to be considered if police staff numbers are not sorted out,” he said.
Gold Coast police are angry and united over the Hurley issue and have expressed fears that what happened to the officer could happen to them in the course of their duties.
“I lie awake at night thinking about Chris and his family and how my wife and I would feel if it happened to me,” said one unnamed Gold Coast officer yesterday.
“He is one of the truly good guys and he really loved policing in Aboriginal communities, which are not everybody’s first choice, and he is just as upset about that side of things.
“We are supposed to be the ones championing the law and protecting people, so for anyone, especially magistrates, to be saying that we should expect to be spat on, attacked and abused after dark is just bloody outrageous.
“We know the job is tough but no one should be faced with that sort of thing and officers like Chris have always dealt with it professionally and in a non-violent way and look where he is now.”
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