CLEVELAND magistrate Deborah Vasta has said no one could pay her enough to be a police officer as she lambasted two men for abusing police.
“You couldn’t pay me enough to be a police officer,” Ms Vasta said.
Ms Vasta was speaking after two men pleaded guilty to charges relating to a brawl that broke out in a Cleveland home in October.
A 41-year-old machine operator pleaded guilty to one count each of assaulting a police officer, obstructing a police officer and public nuisance, while a 20-year-old stock handler pleaded guilty to one count each of public nuisance and wilful damage of police property.
Ms Vasta said a police officer’s day could involve doing a domestic violence order application with a woman with a black eye who thought her boyfriend had abused her daughter and attending a head-on collision where people are trapped inside and finding an ice pipe on the seat.
The officer could then respond to a suicide, having to inform a parent about the death and the need to go to the morgue to identify their child.
She said the officer might then see a drug deal under way, chase the dealer, get kicked and punched before almost being pricked by a needle.
Ms Vasta said officers were occasionally rewarded by finding a veteran’s war medals, or finding a three-year-old safe and well.
She said twice this year officers had responded to a domestic violence situation and found people dead.
“They have to get in and make a determination of the situation,” Ms Vasta said.
Police prosecutor Kyleigh Engeman said police had drawn their tasers after the 41-year-old man swore at them and became extremely aggressive, picking up a wooden box as if he was going to throw it at them.
She said police heard a woman screaming from inside the house when they arrived.
The father of five said he had been celebrating his eldest daughter’s pregnancy.
He said he was remorseful, embarrassed and had spoken to police inappropriately.
Ms Vasta said the way the man had treated police – who were just trying to do their job – was disgusting.
She said police would have approached the house not knowing whether the man was inside beating his wife and children.
“You are lucky you were not tasered,” she said.
Ms Engeman said the 21-year-old man had shown volatile and abusive behaviour towards police and spat blood in the paddy wagon after being arrested.
Ms Vasta said she hoped it was the last time the man treated the police with such disrespect.
Ms Vasta fined the 41-year-old man $800 and the 20-year-old $500.
No conviction was recorded in either case.
