Sudita Zalli, originally from Albania, sought asylum in Dublin at a Garda station when she was only 11. This was an experience she distinctly remembers as a pivotal point in her life. Zalli and her family had come to Ireland in 2003, seeking asylum with no clear understanding of the process. They were soon greeted by a Garda officer whose kindness left a deep impression on Zalli.
The family was shown immense dignity, humanity, and respect, something that greatly influenced Zalli’s career choice. She joined the Garda reserve forces at 19, eventually becoming a full-time Garda officer. Around eight years after they first entered the Garda station seeking asylum, Zalli walked out of there wearing her uniform with pride.
Currently working with the National Diversity Unit, Zalli’s role involves dealing with hate crimes. Reflecting on her journey from integration to acceptance in 2003, she finds it heart-wrenching to witness the current circumstances.
During the launch of a recruitment initiative for Garda reserves, Zalli shared her journey, supporting Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s lofty goal of enlarging reserve forces to at least 1,000 by 2026 from the existing 341. The reserve officers, who voluntarily commit their time, assist full-time Garda officers in community patrols, crime reduction measures, and administrative duties. They also lend a hand during significant incidents and in traffic management.
Zalli was joined by three fellow Garda reserves who balance their full-time jobs with their voluntary work. For instance, Terry Butler is in transport, Sabrina Murphy works in airline operations, and Ravinder Singh Oberoi is an IT professional. All of them serve as reserves on weekends as their way to contribute positively to their communities.
Despite no financial remuneration, many people, like Zalli, join the reserves with the goal of ultimately becoming full-time Garda officers. Since 2017, over 80 reserves have undergone training to become full-time Garda. One poignant memory that confirmed Zalli’s decision to become a full-time officer was witnessing a fellow Garda breaking the news of a suicide to a family.
The topic at hand is highly delicate and often avoided in conversations, she noted, further emphasising how relatives etch memories of interfacing with custodians during their darkest moments in their hearts forever. The situation was managed with utmost compassion, decency, and integrity, she pointed out, highlighting that such instances are more frequent than generally perceived. Beyond arresting individuals for public disturbances, there is a lot more to their role than what the public is aware of, she explained. Despite a negative image of the police force held by a few, she stated that the police are limited by their available resources. “It is astounding to observe their capabilities, especially considering the constraints they operate under,” she concluded.