The Police Association wants officers who use lethal force during the course of their duties to have automatic name suppression.
The association on Tuesday released its 2011 policy document on law and order.
It says police officers involved in fatal incidents need to be protected until such time as they are proved to have acted unlawfully.
Association president Greg O'Connor says in small communities in particular, there can be major implications for officers named by the media before the full facts of the incident are known.
Mr O'Connor says some officers and their families have had to move towns because of fears for their safety.
The association is also calling for officers to have statutory protections from private prosecutions and civil suits.
