COMMUNITY WON’T COP ATTACKS ON OUR POLICE

ASSAULTING police officers while they are in the course of their duties is about as low as you can get. Shockingly on Saturday night, six officers were assaulted across the city in a night of mayhem on Townsville’s streets.

Several officers ended up in hospital due to the severity of their injuries.

These men and women in blue who have gone to work to do their job do not deserve to be treated with contempt and assaulted.

It’s a job that will see them inevitably put in danger due to the nature of the work, but it’s a risk they willingly accept.

But what cannot be accepted is having cowards assault officers by punching, biting and spitting on them.

These same officers would not think twice about helping someone in danger, investigating their home break-in or arresting those who would prey on our city.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler told the Bulletin that police deserve better than the treatment they received on the weekend.

This kind of behaviour … is disgraceful

“Police should never be considered punching bags,” Mr Wheeler said.

“(Officers) put their safety on the line every day and night and it is disgraceful when that kind of behaviour happens.”

And he is right. You wouldn’t expect to be assaulted while stocking shelves in a grocery store, working behind a bar or sitting in an office cubicle.

The offenders behind these assaults should have the book thrown at them.

Our magistrates need to take a stand and say this kind of behaviour is not OK – and should keep these people locked up.

If they are willing to assault an officer, they are probably willing to assault a member of the public and we cannot afford to have them on our streets.