Respect Our Police – A Call for Unity and Decency

There is a growing and troubling tendency among some Gambians to look down upon our police officers, often dismissing them with the statement: “We pay your salaries.” This mindset is not only disrespectful, but it is also factually misguided and socially dangerous. Let us be fundamentally clear: every civil servant in The Gambia – from teachers to nurses, soldiers to police – is paid through the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is made up of taxes and duties contributed by all Gambians, including the very police officers being insulted. In fact, many police officers directly contribute through payroll taxes, indirect taxes on goods and services, and even license and regulatory fees. It is entirely possible that a police officer pays more tax than the very individual who arrogantly claims to “pay his salary.”

The police are not outsiders. They are not strangers “living off the people.” They are our people: our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, uncles, and neighbors. They walk the same streets we do, struggle with the same high costs of living, and share in the same national destiny. Their uniform is not a sign of superiority, but of responsibility – the responsibility to maintain law and order, often at great personal risk. A society that constantly disrespects its law enforcement institutions is a society that invites chaos. We cannot demand safety and peace yet ridicule and undermine those tasked with protecting both. To insult a police officer in uniform is not just an attack on an individual – it is an attack on the very fabric of law and order that holds our nation together. Criticism of misconduct is valid and necessary. Accountability is important. But blanket disrespect, public humiliation, and casual insults toward all police officers are unjust and counterproductive. Respect does not mean blind obedience; it means recognizing their role, their sacrifices, and their shared humanity.

To my fellow Gambians: let us rise above this habit of disdain. Let us treat our uniformed men and women with the same dignity we expect for ourselves. Respecting our police is not about inflating their egos – it is about preserving our peace, strengthening our democracy, and reminding ourselves that we are one people bound by mutual duty and respect. Peace is everybody’s responsibility. Respect is everybody’s duty.