Traffic officer in the rain. Bravery or lack of preparedness?
The recent picture of a police officer guiding traffic amidst a very heavy down pour went viral for all the reasons.
A number of people took to social media to praise him-some, calling him a hero – for doing his duty while the heavens soaked him, yet seemingly unbothered.
He was dressed in his uniform with no supportive or rain gear.
Incidentally, his colleague-only meters away – was fully dressed; raincoat, reflector, and boots.
The question then is: Is it heroic, bravery, or lack of preparedness? Are traffic Officers supported in the execution of their work?
APTnews recalls one particular incident, when diring a national parade, the heavy rains caught the police and prisons band off guard without any jackets while the UPDF was well-prepared with their rain coats. The Commander In Chief took notice and ordered that every officer on parade must have a rain coat going forward.
Was it a one off directive? Certainly not!
We spoke to a senior Police officer who preferred anomity, and he highlighted key issues:
- Uganda Police Force’s potential oversight in providing adequate protective gear.
- Occupational health and safety concerns.
All these have implications of resource constraints and officers’ vulnerability like exposure to health risks.
We spoke to the Police Spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke who said all all traffic officers are typically equipped with waterproof gear and are given training for handling adverse weather conditions.
Rusoke, however, says the action of the officer is commendable that he chose to carry on with duty in spite of the rain-since he hadn’t carried his gear along.
Public Perception
Indeed, some social media enthusiasts viewed the officer’s action as selfless with a high dedication to duty, yet others thought he was drawing public sympathy for recognition or praise, especially that his other colleague was dressed for duty.
Rusoke adds, rather lightly, “how many of you leave your houses with no umbrella, and meet the rains at the their worst-with regret? Does that stop the journey? “
Indeed; the officer’s actions, while commendable, highlight the beauty that Uganda is; all round, beautiful, unpredictable weather; a mixture of sunny, cloudy weather-all day, everyday. It was 28° by day, 22° in the evening.
That, I guess, is what makes Uganda, the Pearl.