Heavily-armed police officer Michelle Evans stood outside a cemetery in Christchurch while wearing a hijab.

She also pinned a red rose to her bulletproof vest as an act of symbolic solidarity.

The image, taken by photographer Vincent Yu, quickly went viral with many social media users saying that Ms. Evans reflected the emotions many New Zealanders feel towards Muslim.

It was in 2016 when she joined the police force as a new recruit.

In an interview with The Whanganui Chronicle, Ms. Evans said: “I want my career to be here. I love Whanganui. It’s a beautiful, small town and this is where I want to live.”

She also shared a post about the pressure of being an officer 6 months ago.

The post said: “It’s not normal, to carry the burdens police officers do, emotionally, physically, and mentally.”

Constable Evans started policing after she spent her gap years studying business and accounting. She started working at Whanganui Police and wanted to focus on frontline and youth engagement work.

Aside from working out every day, she also reads about health and psychology and likes to paint.

Last week, Ms. Evan’s colleague took off his cap as an act of respect for families and friends attending funerals.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wore a black headscarf for the engagement in the city’s Hagley Park opposite the Al Noor mosque where worshippers were attacked.

“New Zealand mourns with you, we are one,” she expressed.

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