Adapting to textbook portrayal of Police officers

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(This is a translated article by Police Constable Wong Lok-on of Wan Chai Division)

Giving my daughter a hand in her schoolwork, I happened to find in her Primary 1 textbook a description of police duties. My daughter said she learnt from school that policemen are diligent, upright, helpful and righteous, thereby gaining public respect.

After reading the book, I began pondering: "Does working 48 hours a week as a policeman necessarily mean we are diligent, upright, helpful and righteous?"

The Force has never been shy of reform. Measures have been taken to enhance service quality and minimize complaints. But what should we say if our kids ask us: "Dad, why do the public complain against the Police?"

Some colleagues are understandably more susceptible to reform pressure than others. But it is no use crying over spilt milk or finding excuses. We ought to confront the realities and re-examine ourselves, and adapt to changes instead.

Perhaps a revisit to what has been said about policemen in our old school textbooks and practising the ideals so portrayed might help to lift the performance and image of the Force.