Saluting our officers in blue

Police officers put their lives on the line every day, in an often stressful and thankless job.In an unheard of gesture of grace LINC Church in Salt Rock sought for one day to recognise and honour the police instead of criticizing them for their shortcomings by inviting the entire Umhlali police station to lunch last Wednesday.

The church believes in fostering a ‘culture of honour’.

Everyone from the officers and reservists to the cleaning staff, eighty people in all, were treated to a sit-down lunch and spoiled with gifts and words of motivation.

Organiser Kelly Ross-Kent said God had given her the mandate to “change the language of the city from criticism to encouragement”.

“God asked me to thank the police for fighting for justice on our behalf,” said Ross-Kent.

Umhlali police spokesperson Vinny Pillay said the church’s gesture had gone a long way towards boosting the cops’ morale.

“I have been a policeman for 24 years and in that time, never have I experienced something like this,” said Pillay.

Umhlali station commander, Colonel Khethiwe Makhathin said she was delighted by the invitation.

She gifted the church with a young sapling and asked the church to plant the tree trusting that it would grow strong and flourish as a symbol of a healthy relationship between the police and the community they serve.

LINC is also joining the Adopt-a-cop ministry run by Helen Bower at Church Alive that partners praying people with an officer.

“We pray for them daily,” said Bower, who added that Umhlali is one of 68 police stations around the country that receive daily prayer for their officers.

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