The scent of my nana's Christmas pies, the joyous Christmas carols on the speaker, and my siblings quarrelling about whose present is bigger, would usually be the happiest time of the year for a child. For me it was not, this time of the year had me in deep thought and worry, as it’s Christmas Eve and my father was not present. As a wee little girl, I’ve always been confused as to why he wasn’t always around like most fathers, so I sat on the couch opposite the door awaiting my father, with a bag full of questions. 

The sound of a dying car engine outside alerted me that he had arrived. I sit up straight as if I was Queen Elizabeth and wait for the wooden door to creak open. He walked in and I hurriedly flooded him with my thousands of questions. Father gave a small chuckle as he looked down at me running my mouth off as if it was a race. He lifts me up, then sits on the couch and places me on his lap. Brushing the hair out of my face, my dad says, “Brooke, I am a police officer, and as a police officer I have sworn an oath on the bible to serve and protect the nation. Forgive me if I come late to our family events or if I ever miss them, but these are what I have to sacrifice as a police officer of the nation.” 

As far as I can remember, I’ve always envied my cousins and friends, as I watched and heard stories of their Christmas and New Year with their fathers, while mine would always be absent. This has created a void and resentment within me towards my father for never being around during special occasions. However, over the years my resentment turned into envy and pride, as I now understand what my father and family have to sacrifice, because of his line of work.  

While others were happily eating their meals with a full family, I sat on the dinner table waiting for my father to come home, so we can share a meal together. Unfortunately, he didn’t come home because he had to stay overnight. On birthdays, my cousins and friends spend it with their fathers, on my birthdays I blow my candles out wishing for my father’s safety. 

You speak about how high your father’s pay is, I speak about the dangers my father faces and how he overcame them in his line of work. You enjoy getting wasted, drink and drive and mock the police when they stop you. These are police officers who are dying to go home to their families but can’t because there are many others like you out there. A day where you hear about no crimes and a night of silence, that’s because all the police officers are out and patrolling the area to maintain the peace, despite being late at night. 

During the Covid lockdown you stay home comfortable in your houses, safe from the virus, yet police officers aren’t. They stay out to keep arrogant people in their homes to reduce the spread, knowing they are at risk of becoming sick. 

You're all tucked away and safe during natural disasters like cyclones and tsunamis, while police officers are those individuals who are still working to protect all citizens, putting their life on the line for others, despite knowing they may lose their own life in the process. They are the first and only people who’d go headfirst into these types of disasters. They are the ones who risk their lives for a thousand others to be saved, they put the citizens’ lives before their own. 

He leaves for work early in the morning and returns home late at night, only to rest for a few hours then leaves once again, with that cycle on repeat. As a policeman my father has sacrificed his entire life to serve the country, time to watch his children grow is no longer within his grasp, because all of it is taken up by his job. Blood, sweat and tears shed, yet nothing seems to make him cease serving the country, for he is a true man in blue. Most nights, my mother and I would sit in front of our altar and pray for my father, because we do not know the dangers my father will face, or if he will be returning home. 

Everyday a police officer wakes up; they wake up knowing their life is on the line. They wake up not knowing what the day holds in store for them, and whether they will be returning home to their families. This uncertainty is a big burden to them and one that must be recognised by society. 

Before complaining about the policemen and women, why not have the perspective that it is their duty, that they have put aside their families, so they may maintain the peace that you are breaking with your illegal and inconsiderate actions. 

Our police officers jump into catastrophe, not for their sake but for our sake, to protect us from what may harm us. They put their lives on the line for us, we owe it to them to give them the true recognition that they deserve. Police officers of our beautiful nation, those who have given their honour, sacrifice and courage to ensure our nation’s safekeeping, I salute you. 

Maliana Todd is 15-years old and from Moamoa village. She is attending Robert Louis Stevenson Secondary School (Year 13). Her hobbies are reading, writing and TikTok. She enjoys writing about life issues. Her stories are inspired by what is happening around in the community and affecting people.