Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/984659
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 MAY 2018 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI MALTA'S commissioner of police Lawrence Cutajar yes- terday lamented that people's respect towards police officers had diminished over the past two decades. Cutajar was leading a soli- darity march for police of- ficers in the aftermath of the incident during which traffic policeman Simon Schembri was grievously injured in a hit-and-run by underage driv- er Liam Debono. "People's respect towards police officers has diminished in all these years since I've been part of the police force," Cutajar said. "In my experience of work- ing in the community, peo- ple's attitude towards the po- lice has changed… it does not deter me or any of our police officers, it's just another day on the job for us. It is impor- tant to not put everyone in the same basket.. a vast majority of the Maltese respect us and the police corps." The march was attended by thousands of police of- ficers, family relatives and well-wishers, in the first ever public demonstration of its kind convened by the GWU's Police Officers' Union and the Malta Police Association, as well as the retired police offic- ers' association. President of the Republic Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca flanked Cutajar during the march, which was attended by the home affairs minister Mi- chael Farrugia, Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia, Op- position leader Adrian Delia, as well as various government ministers and MPs from both sides of the House, and po- litical party members. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was in attendance. Cutajar thanked those who had attended the march, say- ing he was moved by the sup- port shown towards constable Simon Schembri, police offic- ers and their families. Cutajar said that Schem- bri's family will be receiving the utmost support from the force, both financially and psychologically. "Whatever people say, solidarity between us police officers is there and will remain there, no matter what." Several police officers pre- sent during the march ex- pressed their frustration over the incident, in which it is understood that Liam Debono 'il-Lillu', 17, of Tarxien, drove off after being stopped by Schembri, running over the police officer and dragging him beneath his Mercedes. Cutajar also thanked the politicians who had attended the solidarity march, stating this gave the force courage to keep on moving forward and do their job to the utmost. Constable Simon Schembri was nearly killed on Tuesday when he was intentionally run over by the 17-year-old driv- er, suffering a collapsed lung and fractures to his pelvis and ribs. Schembri's right arm had to be amputated below the el- bow as a result of the injuries sustained. The youth who ran Schem- bri over was charged with at- tempted murder and 22 other charges, including breaching traffic regulations, driving a car without a number plate and recidivism. He was denied bail. The president of the Po- lice Officers Union, Sandro Camilleri, thanked those that attended the march and the Maltese people for the sup- port shown towards constable Simon Schembri and the po- lice force. Camilleri described the incident as an escalation of recent events, stating that despite a decrease in crimi- nality, a hefty price was being paid by the officers in charge of safe-guarding public order. "Our work is becoming very dangerous, we are being at- tacked both verbally and phys- ically, and our morale is low," Camilleri said. "We have to keep on moving forward and cannot stop here, that is why we are here, and those that at- tended give us the courage to do so." 56 83 75 52 63 1 55 49 19-05-2018 Draw No: 724 Police out in force in solidarity march for injured constable "People's respect towards police officers has diminished in all these years since I've been part of the police force" Lawrence Cutajar Thousands marched in solidarity for injured police constable Simon Schembri, in a demonstration fronted by Commissioner of Police Lawrence Cutajar (second from left). Also in this photo are, from left, POU president Sandro Camilleri, and President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Home Affairs minister Michael Farrugia. The march was attended by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Adrian Delia, various government ministers and MPs from all parties in the House, as well as Speaker Anglu Farrugia, and union representatives PHOTOS BY JAMES BIANCHI INTERVIEW 'Erosion of respect' PGS 16-17