Dear Commissioner,

 

I want to write a short note about a Hong Kong police officer (badge number 34763) who was on patrol in Admiralty MTR Station on Sunday, June 12, 2013 about 1630 hrs. I am an American and I was carrying my three-year-old son.  In my son's eyes policemen are only slightly less admirable than God.

 

We were looking for a post box to mail a postcard back to my son's grandmother.  The officer was incredibly kind, spoke absolutely perfect English and told us he didn't know where the post box was, but that we should wait there and he would be right back.  A few minutes later he returned and offered to walk us to the post box.  During our walk he carried on a very pleasant conversation with my wide-eyed son explaining that he could always ask a policeman for help and should never be afraid of a policeman and he also showed him the detail of his uniform.

 

All of this happened when the officer was on patrol alone and no superior officer was present.  All of his actions were simply a reflection of his own devotion to duty.  We all think about the dramatic aspects of being a police officer.  Arrests, disputes, crime suppression, etc.  However I think the kind of community police work that he was undertaking is incredibly valuable and is often not properly praised.  The action of this officer created not only great goodwill toward the Hong Kong police force on my part, but much more importantly left a tiny three-year-old boy with a very positive first impression of a "real" police officer that he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

 

I would be most grateful if you would take the time personally to let Officer 34763 know that his seemingly small gesture was actually an extremely important part of what being a good police officer is all about.

 

With warmest regards and grateful appreciation for all that your force does for the community.

 

T. Brown