XN000022-1983-07-16 — Page 7

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1983

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LEARNING IS CONTINUING PROCESS FOR POLICE

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THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW TECHNIQUES, NEW TACTICS, NEW METHODS AND NEW LAWS OF WHICH POLICE OFFICERS MUST BE AWARE AND MUST LEARN, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR. ROY HENRY, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.

ADDRESSING 223 RECRUITS AT A PASSING OUT PARADE AT THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL, MR. HENRY STRESSED THERE WAS A VAST AMOUNT OF LEARNING AHEAD OF EACH FULLY FLEDGED POLICE OFFICER AND NO ONE COULD TRULY SAY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE FOR HIM TO LEARN.

HE TOLD THEM THAT VERY SHORTLY, THEY WOULD BE EXERCISING THE FULL DUTIES OF A POLICE OFFICER WHICH COULD BE HEAVY, AND IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THEY TOOK THE RIGHT ACTION.

NOTING THAT IT WAS ONLY HUMAN TO AVOID PROFESSING IGNORANCE BY EMBARKING BLINDLY ON A TASK WHICH WAS NEW TO THEM, MR. HENRY URGED THE GRADUATES NOT TO BE AFRAID OF SEEKING GUIDANCE WHEN NECESSARY.

''MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO ASK OPENLY AND FRANKLY FOR GUIDANCE AND EXPLANATION FROM YOUR SENIORS OR YOUR MORE EXPERIENCED COLLEAGUES WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU.

''NO ONE WILL CRITICISE OR DESPISE YOU FOR THAT ON THE CONTRARY SUCH ACTION WILL BE REGARDED AS SENSIBLE AND WISE,'' HE ASSURED THEM.

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TURNING TO THE FIELD OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS ON WHICH POLICE HAVE ALWAYS LAID EMPHASIS, MR. HENRY SAID THE FORCE COULD NOT POSSIBLY OPERATE EFFECTIVELY UNLESS IT HAD THE GOODWILL AND THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY IT SERVED.

ACCORDING TO MR, HENRY, THE SERVICE POLICE RENDERED WAS AIMED AT ENSURING THAT PEOPLE LIVE, WORK AND RELAX WITHOUT THE FEAR OF THEIR LIBERTY BEING AFFECTED BY THE CRIMINAL. IT WAS ALSO AIMED AT AIDING THOSE WHO NEEDED OR ASKED FOR HELP,

IN THIS TASK, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET TO KNOW OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THAT THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND US, HE SAID.

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WHILE DISTRICT POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS AND THEIR STAFF DO MUCH TO FURTHER THIS AIM, EACH AND EVERY POLICEMAN SHOULD CONTRIBUTE IN THIS EFFORT, HE WENT ON.

**WE ARE ALL COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS, NO MATTER WHETHER

WE ARE WALKING A BEAT OR SITTING IN AN OFFICE.

WARNING THE RECRUITS AGAINST RUDENESS AND LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE PUBLIC, MR. HENRY SAID AN ACT OF ASSISTANCE, COMPASSION OR EFFICIENCY WOULD DO MUCH TO ENHANCE NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICER'S REPUTATION BUT THAT OF THE FORCE.

HE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE NEVERTHELESS THAT THEY WOULD CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE SUCCESS OF THE POLICE'S IMPROVEMENT PLANS.

LASTLY, HE PRAISED THEIR SMART AND WELL CONDUCTED PARADE, AND WISHED THEM GOOD LUCK AND GREAT SATISFACTION IN THEIR CHOSEN CAREER.