Police Officer Shot Dead in Croydon

[Magicpaintbrush]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54293111

My DH is in the Met and came home on the verge of tears after night duty this morning, so demoralised, so cut up by the loss of another police officer who was just doing his job.

So many officers put their lives at risk daily, like the officer who has tragically died last night. But so many members of the public dehumanise police officers, seeing only the uniform, forgetting they are human beings too who work so hard and often in horrific circumstances - the media only reports half the story often - and that they have families and friends who love them. The powers that be, government et al, don't value them and treat them like disposable shit.

I am so desperately sorry for the police officer who has died so tragically, and his family. This is the kind of danger that officers face and they are not appreciated or looked after by the higher powers who send them out there to face these dangers, they just aren't.

I’m Met too - it’s a shitty shitty day. I’ve heard a couple of things about it but wouldn’t want to say right now. Croydon is not a very easy ground to police - pretty high crime and quite a lot of gang activity. It’s the kind of ground that if I were attacked I’m
doubtful that anyone would come and assist me.

I'm not trying to start a debate, I was trying to say that even people who are critical of the police can still feel this is a terrible tragedy and sympathise with anyone affected by it. But I apologise.

It’s the kind of ground that if I were attacked I’m
doubtful that anyone would come and assist me

And yet the police put themselves directly into that kind of hostile situation in the hopes of protecting the rest of us.

You have such an important role in our society and it’s usually only criticisms that get any attention. I and countless others are indebted to you and your colleagues in ways we can’t even comprehend

@dreamingbohemian I get what you’re saying, but in my view bringing in examples of poor police behaviour here is as inappropriate as someone going on to a thread discussing the death of someone in custody and saying “but not ALL police...” both are inappropriate and should be robustly challenged.

I'm serving although on mat leave currently and DH is serving this is just awful and has upset us both even though we don't know the officer or work in the same borough. RIP brother in blue

On the BBC report they have a local reverend quoted saying she feels sorry for the perpetrator and she’s not surprised there’s been a shooting in Croydon given poor relations between police and the community. Fuxache that makes me angry. Time and place. Don’t go blaming the police for criminals shooting them.

I'll probably have police officers rolling their eyes at me but I presumed there'd be hand held scanners like the things the security have at airports if they aren't allowed to do more than a cursory pat down when taken into custody.

Noone should expect to be murdered at work. I work in a criminal justice agency and my thoughts are with the officers family and colleagues/friends. And the nhs staff that will be tasked with caring and healing the murderer

@Lemonylemony

On the BBC report they have a local reverend quoted saying she feels sorry for the perpetrator and she’s not surprised there’s been a shooting in Croydon given poor relations between police and the community. Fuxache that makes me angry. Time and place. Don’t go blaming the police for criminals shooting them.

That's disgusting. Typical of the BBC giving them a platform. How can anyone feel sorry for the perpetrator?!

Absolutely appalling my thoughts go out to all his family friends and colleagues
I applaud the police service and all their hard work times are not easy for them
Hopefully the perpetrator will get locked up for very long long time

DH is also Met and knows the individual, though not well. They're all very cut up today, lots of calls and messages to each other. I'm devastated for the man's family and friends, but also for any officer who's actions may have inadvertently led to this and has to deal with this now.

Horrible news. These things seem to be ever more common, so sadly I wasn't surprised when I read the news.

It was probably against his human rights or some shit to be searched... ridiculous. Poor guy, poor family.

Poor poor man. I know of lots of folk (not friends of mine thankfully) who hold ill will toward the police. Generally they do tend to be scum or a bit lacking in intelligence. I'd say most rational reasonable folk are grateful to the police and the very difficult job that they do.

To all the police officers reading this thread - thank you.

The officers name has just been released, turns out my DP did know him from a previous posting and looked up to him, says he was a great guy, helped him when he was a probationer, even more shocked this evening here now.

@wowfudge

The officer was a woman it has now been reported. Truly awful - as you say, police officers are human beings with families.

Well he wasn't a woman but I'm curious as to where you saw this reported.

DH has a cousin in the police. Such a tragic thing to happen. Something went wrong and I really feel for the officers taking him in.

I've just read a report that the shooter had his hands cuffed behind his back when he managed to produce the gun yet somehow managed to shoot an officer 5 times in the chest and then himself in the neck. I mean wtf, how is that even possible?

My youngest brother has just joined the police and this sort of thing makes me really worry for him.

It's just tragic. Truly. The media is reporting that he was 2 months away from retirement. I just can't imagine the pain that would cause, on top of the pain of losing your loved one. To know that he was so close to safety.

It's a real reminder that some people do very dangerous jobs to keep the rest of us safe.

I’m fed up of the negative attitudes towards the police- branded racist, and being compared to the over zealous cops in the USA. This isn’t the USA.
The videos on YouTube featuring police officers and the negative comments are very concerning.
Unfortunately, nothing will really change. Theresa May cut the police force by 20000 Officers didn’t she? I know the Police federation didn’t like her very much.
Thoughts and condolences to the officers family.
Sadly the police are just cannon fodder to our government.