P PRESIDENT Mark Carroll
For everyone’s sake, return police to the front line I
’ve spent almost my entire adult life in and around policing. Never before have I witnessed the extent of policeofficer shortages that are afflicting SAPOL right now. Last October, Commissioner Grant Stevens issued a direction for all SAPOL employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. He did not hand down this direction as the state’s police chief. He issued it under the auspices of the Emergency Management Act — wielding the health powers vested in him as the state’s COVID-19 co-ordinator. At the time, I wrote to the commissioner, requesting the specific government health advice which underpinned this direction. I assumed it would be clearly evident, and immediately available on request. This advice, however, has not been forthcoming. Two of the purposes highlighted in the direction were to: • “Minimise the disruption to (police) services due to the spread of COVID-19 amongst police workers, and • “Minimise the disruption to (police) services due to police workers being furloughed following possible exposure to COVID-19.” 10
Police Journal
A disturbing reality is that many members have informed me there is no longer enough officers to perform proactive police work and target recidivist offenders.
