Police Bibles: WTF

[GUDLUSS]

http://catchthefire.com.au/blog/2009/09/20/official-police-bible-given-thumbs-up-by-commissioner/

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has welcomed the release of a new Police Bible, created especially for the State‘s serving police officers.
Commissioner Scipione met with Bible Society CEO Daniel Willis and Police Chaplains at Police Headquarters to receive his copy.
The Police Bible is compact, with a Police-blue, leather-look cover and Police Crest on the front. It contains the New and Old Testaments, as well as information on Police ethics, service, integrity and leadership. It also includes the police prayer, and photos of officers in the field.
It’s thought that eventually, the bulk of the State’s 20,000 officers will have a Police Bible in their possession.
Commissioner Scipione is grateful for his copy, which he says will replace the dog-eared Bible he currently owns.
“I believe the Police Bible will impact on generations of Police officers to come,” says Commissioner Scipione.
“Every officer who graduates from the Academy in Goulburn is offered a Bible and I would like to think an officer who receives one of these special Police Bibles will one day sit in my seat. The Police Bibles are sure to outlive the current administration.”
Commissioner Scipione says specialised Bibles are used worldwide in law-enforcement and the military.
“They are especially important in our line of work,” says the Commissioner. “Our officers have a great deal of respect for our Chaplains, and what better way to build on that relationship than to share the gospel?”
The Police Bible is the brainchild of Senior State Police Chaplain Rev Russel Avery, who felt it important Police feel a connection with the Bible.
“Coming from the Air Force I saw how popular the Defence Force Bible is, and wanted our law-enforcement officers to have a similar option available to them.
“I started talks in late January and already the Bibles are being shipped to the 107 Police Chaplains around the State, ready for distribution.”
The initial run of 3000 Bibles have been provided by NSW’s Bible Society, with plans already underway for a second run.
Our favourite Lefty has had his say, too: http://anonymouslefty.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/imagine-how-upset-theyd-be-about-a-police-koran/

EDIT: Bonus shit from Catch the Fire: Dreadful meeting of world religions where some loony suggested equality of religions in Australia.
http://catchthefire.com.au/blog/2009/09/11/acts-412-united-christian-strategic-meetings-to-counter-the-parliament-of-the-worlds-religions-in-melbourne/
My favourite bit:
This PWR gathering in December is but a small part of a much larger plan to change Australia into a multi-faith nation where all religions are seen as equal and each is required to tolerate each other and work together - the aim is that no religion would try to proselytise from any other religion.
Edit again
; Hmmm, probably should move this to Fantasy Island.

[Logic]

Ugh. I think it's very wrong that an official police bible is produced. If an individual officer should want to carry a bible they can buy their friggen own. Why officially sanction, and even promote, belief in christian religion. I also object to my tax dollars paying the wages of police chaplains grrrrrrrr.

[atheist_angel]

I think our police just get their bibles from the Gideons (http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/*%20Orange:%20for%20sidewalk%20distribution%20to%2 0middle/high%20school%20students%20%20%20%20%20*%20Green:% 20for%20college/university%20students%20%20%20%20%20*%20Red:%20for %20in-school%20distribution%20to%20Middle/High%20school%20students%20%20%20%20%20*%20Digital %20Camouflage/Desert%20Camouflage:%20for%20the%20military%20%20% 20%20%20*%20Dark%20blue:%20for%20law%20enforcement %20personnel,%20firefighters,%20and%20EMTs%20%20%2 0%20%20*%20White:%20for%20medical%20professionals% 20%20%20%20%20*%20Light%20blue:%20for%20distributi on%20by%20the%20Auxiliary%20only%20%20%20%20%20*%2 0Brown:%20personal%20worker%27s%20testaments%20%28 for%20individual%20witnessing%20by%20Gideons%29%20 %20%20%20%20*%20Periwinkle:%20personal%20worker%27 s%20testaments%20%28for%20individual%20witnessing% 20by%20the%20Auxiliary%29)...I thought they did that in other countries, too. I guess they don't.


Orange: for sidewalk distribution to middle/high school students
Green: for college/university students
Red: for in-school distribution to Middle/High school students
Digital Camouflage/Desert Camouflage: for the military
Dark blue: for law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and EMTs
White: for medical professionals
Light blue: for distribution by the Auxiliary only
Brown: personal worker's testaments (for individual witnessing by Gideons)
Periwinkle: personal worker's testaments (for individual witnessing by the Auxiliary)

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

And the POLICE COMMISIONER sayeth "Thou shalt arrest anyone who's speed cannot be contained by the SPEED LIMIT"...

[Seamus]

My grandfather was walking stereotype: an Irish-Catholic copper whose name really was "Patrick",who hated godless Communists and voted DLP.

I inherited his bible. It was called "The Police Code OF 1912". Based on the English code,it contained a plethora of useful information about the law and handy hints;

There was (and still is) an offence called "being drunk in charge of a bicycle".The book contains many helpful instructions EG: how to despatch a rabid dog with one's truncheon,and how to enter a "disorderly house" (brothel).

Pop was known affectionately as "too late Paddy" by the local two up school;they gave him a splendid leather armchair when he retired.(really)

[Mister Pervert]

"Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?"

[Mister Pervert]

Afterthought: perhaps it's an Occupational Health and Safety issue. Hitting suspects with those heavy phone books was probably quite stressful, and a smaller, standard book was needed.

You have a point. The Yellow Pages in most capital cities now run to two volumes. If they really want to beat a confession from neardowells, they have to drive them to regional centers and hey! Carbon footprint, and all, not to mention tiny towns that now have their own "Pink Pages". I mean, can you imagine Chopper Reed being beaten for a confession by some giant flat-foot weilding a Pink Pages?

Um, nevermind...the question was rhetorical...

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

Afterthought: perhaps it's an Occupational Health and Safety issue. Hitting suspects with those heavy phone books was probably quite stressful, and a smaller, standard book was needed.Ah but could you not also hit suspect with pillows?
CROWD: Oooooooooooooooooooooh! Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!

[wolty]

Just weird. Maybe they are hoping the bible might stop a bullet? Odds are if I live long enough it will happen sooner or later.

[Brother Nelson]

Afterthought: perhaps it's an Occupational Health and Safety issue. Hitting suspects with those heavy phone books was probably quite stressful, and a smaller, standard book was needed.

Its a sign of the times that the phone book is now on line and there's not always a hard copy at hand when you most need it.

[davo]

Do the gideons deliver bulk?

Heaps of folk I know have wood heating.

[robertkd]

Look on the bright side

What do you mean you had the residents stone him to death for failing to wear a seatbelt,... :p

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

I'd hate to see what would happen if someone was caught speeding!
As for drink driving - well they're already stoned enough as it is.

[eclectic]

I think our police just get their bibles from the Gideons (http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/*%20Orange:%20for%20sidewalk%20distribution%20to%2 0middle/high%20school%20students%20%20%20%20%20*%20Green:% 20for%20college/university%20students%20%20%20%20%20*%20Red:%20for %20in-school%20distribution%20to%20Middle/High%20school%20students%20%20%20%20%20*%20Digital %20Camouflage/Desert%20Camouflage:%20for%20the%20military%20%20% 20%20%20*%20Dark%20blue:%20for%20law%20enforcement %20personnel,%20firefighters,%20and%20EMTs%20%20%2 0%20%20*%20White:%20for%20medical%20professionals% 20%20%20%20%20*%20Light%20blue:%20for%20distributi on%20by%20the%20Auxiliary%20only%20%20%20%20%20*%2 0Brown:%20personal%20worker%27s%20testaments%20%28 for%20individual%20witnessing%20by%20Gideons%29%20 %20%20%20%20*%20Periwinkle:%20personal%20worker%27 s%20testaments%20%28for%20individual%20witnessing% 20by%20the%20Auxiliary%29)...I thought they did that in other countries, too. I guess they don't.


Orange: for sidewalk distribution to middle/high school students
Green: for college/university students
Red: for in-school distribution to Middle/High school students
Digital Camouflage/Desert Camouflage: for the military
Dark blue: for law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and EMTs
White: for medical professionals
Light blue: for distribution by the Auxiliary only
Brown: personal worker's testaments (for individual witnessing by Gideons)
Periwinkle: personal worker's testaments (for individual witnessing by the Auxiliary)


Interesting! We got given our gideon's at high school, and ours were red. (at a state high school. yick)

[robertkd]

ah chairman mao, I have a copy of the "red book" somewhere in antiquity

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

I used my little red Gideon book, in a way similar to this lad (http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/09/21/Police-Boy-used-Bible-page-for-joint/UPI-98331253560379/).

I used tobacco (apart from the time we smoked castor oil bush... cue Ricin Scare in 10...) and didn't show off, perhaps that's the secret.
Now that's what I call smokin' that shit

[gord]

Jesus H Christ.. you are joking right? Buying bibles with tax money should be illegal.

Why don't they have to also carry copies of the koran, talmud and special edition of the feynman lectures the bible of physics..erm.

[gord]

or at least, one of these -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gospel_of_the_Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

[atheist_angel]

Jesus H Christ.. you are joking right? Buying bibles with tax money should be illegal.

Why don't they have to also carry copies of the koran, talmud and special edition of the feynman lectures the bible of physics..erm.

or at least, one of these -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gospel_of_the_Flying_Spaghetti_MonsterYeah, wouldn't Pastafarians (and other religions) have grounds for religious discrimination? Or is there no separation of church and state? :confused:

[DaveMcRae]

Interesting post.

My brother is in the police force - he has informed me months ago the if he wanted a sure fire legup in the promotional stakes, it would be to get a crucifix necklace and join the god squad. Of the top 10 places in the NSW police, he said, only #2 isn't a god botherer and he is due to resign soon.

And in light of what my brother has told me, this quote becomes scary

"and I would like to think an officer who receives one of these special Police Bibles will one day sit in my seat" Scippone

ie, better be a fundie xian if you want a promotion in my squad

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

I once heard on the news that the police minister or commissioner (can't remember) got his license suspended for 2 months or years or whatever for not wearing a seatbelt...

[pedrico]

I thought the folks might like to verbally crucify this dickhead:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/the-diary/top-cop-leads-god-squad-20100411-s0wp.html

[Yarra]

This is very disturbing.

I can think of two cases where senior cops were influenced by christian belief - and not in a good way.

Back at the time of the 'Yorkshire Ripper' a top cop (I think the Chief of the Manchester force) adopted the attitude that prostitutes were asking for it - it was only when 'nice respectable' women got murdered they changed their approach. I think there was a lot of concern that during the trial there was a distinction made between the murdered sex workers and the other victims.

In fact there were some very doggy attitudes coming from the police towards women in general at the time.

Then there was the ‘Christchurch Crèche case’ in NZ. During a TV interview the cop in charge said ‘I believe in a god who won’t be mocked’. It is widely (if not universally) accepted than none of the ‘crimes’ ever happened. This crèche was run by ‘’left-wing’ ‘feminist’ women and the homosexual Peter Ellis (even his fellow inmates knew he was completely innocent and left him alone) not the kind of people liked by certain types of religious nuts - how that case ever grew legs is a total mystery. You can’t just blame christian cops of course – what were the courts, police minister and other authorities doing to let this go on.

The fundamental problem with those with very strong religion is they ‘answer to god’ we don’t matter, this makes them unsuitable for a lot of positions in society I think. Imagine if a known atheist is a suspect – do you really trust someone like this to be fair and unbiased.

[atheist_angel]

This scares me. Would a christian officer be more lenient with a believer than with a non-believer? Does he carry antihomosexuality biases on the job with him? How might judge-y preachy stance behind the scenes affect justice?

[atheist_angel]

I think Yarra just answered my question before I asked it. :p

[Dane]

This scares me. Would a christian officer be more lenient with a believer than with a non-believer? Does he carry antihomosexuality biases on the job with him? How might judge-y preachy stance behind the scenes affect justice?
I don't have a link, but perhaps you remember a case in America... the judge said he was a Christian and should have known better, so she gave him a reduced sentence.


Let's hope this attitude doesn't affect the pope's arrest. Such a high hope it's in another universe...

[KeithW]

I do hope that he turns out to be bent

[ugu80]

Commissioner Scipione is a Hillsong happy clapper and high in the church hierarchy.