The Australian Federal Police Association rejects the characterisation made in a Facebook post circulating online by the Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury MLA. A similar post has also been made by Mr Thomas Emerson MLA. The contents of these provide a partial account of a complex incident and risks undermining trust in officers who acted in line with their training and the information available at the time.
Police responded to a report of an armed and dangerous offender who had threatened the public. Officers must make rapid decisions in dynamic and uncertain conditions to protect life. They do not get the benefit of hindsight. They act on the facts at hand to keep the community safe.
We support transparent review processes, and those processes are already in motion. We welcome fair scrutiny. We do not support public commentary that assumes misconduct before the facts are established. It places officers and their families under unfair pressure, is divisive, and inflames community tensions.
The AFPA will continue to back members who act lawfully and in good faith. We urge community leaders to wait for the formal findings before making public statements about police conduct.
Media Contact AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts, (02) 6285 1677, troy.r@afpa.org.au
The Australian Federal Police Association rejects the characterisation made in a Facebook post circulating online by the Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury MLA. A similar post has also been made by Mr Thomas Emerson MLA. The contents of these provide a partial account of a complex incident and risks undermining trust in officers who acted in line with their training and the information available at the time.
Police responded to a report of an armed and dangerous offender who had threatened the public. Officers must make rapid decisions in dynamic and uncertain conditions to protect life. They do not get the benefit of hindsight. They act on the facts at hand to keep the community safe.
We support transparent review processes, and those processes are already in motion. We welcome fair scrutiny. We do not support public commentary that assumes misconduct before the facts are established. It places officers and their families under unfair pressure, is divisive, and inflames community tensions.
The AFPA will continue to back members who act lawfully and in good faith. We urge community leaders to wait for the formal findings before making public statements about police conduct.
Media Contact AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts, (02) 6285 1677, troy.r@afpa.org.au
