A group of drunk Western Australian police officers have voiced their displeasure at the war in Iraq, by going all Abu Ghraib on some hapless American students.
Claims that nine off-duty police officers taunted and humiliated American university students about the US involvement in Iraq are being investigated by West Australian police.
The incident occurred last Tuesday in Fremantle, when drunken police officers, seven from WA and two from NSW, forced the students to kneel on the ground at their dormitory at Notre Dame University.
It is one of several being investigated by police after a wild night in the port city.
Some of the worst behaviour was at the Orient Hotel, where one of the officers vomited across the bar after the group was refused service.
—-
Earlier, the men told drinkers they were “above the law” because they were police.
It is believed the abuse of the US students erupted after a fight at a nightclub.
During that incident, one of the WA officers was allegedly assaulted by one of the students and had a tooth knocked out.
Enraged, some of the drunken officers tracked the American down to the university.
It was there that several American students, including some who had nothing to do with the clash, were made to kneel on the ground.
It is believed the taunting included comments such as “Yankees go home”, “What are you doing in our country” and “What are you doing in Iraq”.
And the officers were obviously also enraged with Germany’s involvement in Iraq.
Witnesses said a German barman was abused and insulted with Nazi salutes.
The moral of the story?
Assistant Police Commissioner Tim Atherton said the public had high expectations of police whether they were on duty or not.
“Sensible cops know that if you go out and have a few drinks, and more so if you have too many drinks, that you don’t play police officer because you only get yourself into trouble,” Mr Atherton said.
How about police officers should not go out and get drunk and abusive to begin with?
