Fundamentalist Christian and NSW police commissioner Andrew Scipione has made possible the introduction of a specially created "Police Bible" for the state's serving police officers.
The bible's producers, the Bible Society, hope that most of the 20,000 police officers in NSW will get a copy.
The police bible is police-blue with the police crest on the front. It includes the Old and New Testaments, the official "police prayer" and photos of officers on duty.
It is compact so police can carry it while working. Police officers will presumably get mixed messages when they patrol Oxford Street or the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras, as the Old Testament recommends that gays be put to death. (Leviticus 20:13)
No information was given about the associated costs to the taxpayer, or whether Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and secular literature would also be provided.
In the press release issued by the Bible Society and confirmed as genuine by the Bible Society publicist, Commissioner Scipione said: "I believe the Police Bible will impact on generations of Police officers to come <193> I would like to think an officer who receives one of these special Police bibles will one day sit in my seat [as Commissioner]."