CP 298 The work of our Police Forces as ‘Daily Bread”. On March 21 this year in Chicago, 5 plainclothes police officers in an unmarked car stopped a vehicle being driven by a black man, Dexter Reed. According to Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability the reason was “purportedly for a seatbelt violation." The officers, who did not identify themselves, pointed their guns at Reed and fired 83 times in roughly 27 seconds. Reed then “exited the vehicle, unarmed, with hands empty and raised." Four of the officers then fired another 13 additional bullets at him as he lay face down and motionless on the street, including 3 times in the back. That's 96 shots in 41 seconds. It took two weeks before the Civilian Office released body-camera footage of the incident, alleging that Reed appeared to fire first at the officers. Witnesses dispute that allegation. Dexter Reed's mother? 'They shot him down like he was an animal... They executed him!' Three weeks later, on Saturday April 13, a 40 year old man with serious mental health issues, entered Westfield Plaza at Bondi Junction in Sydney. Wielding a large knife, Joel Cauchi stabbed 14 people, mostly women, six of whom subsequently died. His deadly rampage was ended by Police Inspector Amy Scott who fired one shot! Immediately after she shot the attacker, she began applying CPR! The family of Mr Cauchi? In a statement released through Queensland Police they said they had "no issues" with Insp Scott as "she was only doing her job to protect others, and we hope she is coping alright". Our reactions? No doubt there are stories within stories here. Police forces are often in the news for good, and not good, reasons. The difference between the two situations described above, and the police responses, is so stark I can hardly comprehend it. However, you may be surprised that one on my strongest internal reactions has been to think of the petition in the Lord’s Prayer concerning Daily Bread. Here is our catechism explanation of Daily Bread What is meant by daily bread? ‘Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbours, and the like.’ (Martin Luther) My point? We can count ourselves truly blessed when the Police Forces in our lives exercise their authority with diligence and integrity, and thereby establish the community security and protection we all need from day to day. Honest and strong policing is daily bread for us and we can receive it with thanks. Not always so We need not pretend that what I have outlined is everybody’s normal experience. We wish. Sin abounds. Wherever there is ‘power’ there is and will be sin. Our history in this country is replete with shameful episodes and multiple failures. But as the actions of Inspector Amy Scott at Bondi Junction remind us, the police do do good things. That’s all the more reason to think of honest and effective policing when we pray the Lord’s Prayer. Be blessed in Him, our Lord Jesus Christ. Fred