The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, has urged RUC widows and disabled officers to embrace the new Police Service for Northern Ireland rather than to see it as a step towards forgetting their own and their loved ones' sacrifices.
Addressing MLAs, widows, disabled officers and members of the rank and file Police Federation at the opening of an RUC exhibition in Stormont's Long Gallery, Sir Ronnie said the dead and injured officers' dedication and bravery would form the cornerstone of the new service.
"I want to see this transformation as the continuation of a journey rather than a new beginning. We, as an organisation, stand ready to embrace change. "It is my dear hope and firm belief that those in all communities stand equally ready to embrace this change," Sir Ronnie added.
The event, organised by the Alliance Party leader, Mr Sean Neeson and Ms Jane Morrice from the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, enjoyed multi-party attendance, although no Sinn Fein representatives were present. One of a number of SDLP MLAs present was the party's policing spokesman, Mr Alex Attwood, who admitted feeling uncomfortable in the face of the large unionist and police presence but said there was no question of not recognising the pain endured by the RUC and their families over the past 30 years.
"We have been asked to attend today to acknowledge what has been endured and to recognise that many currently in the police will have a role to play in its future and we are happy to do that," Mr Attwood said. Some of those "ordinary" police members seemed unsure why they had been invited. "Sure, they wheel us out whenever it suits their agenda and for the rest of the year we are forgotten about.
"Do you know that we were the last people to receive an invitation to the (presentation of the) George Cross ceremony a few months ago? Sometimes you can't help feeling cynical," said Ms Elsie Finlay, whose RUC husband was shot dead by republican paramilitaries while on duty 17 years ago.