New Year’s Royal Honours for three police officers

Two police officers and one retired police officer, with extensive investigation or prevention and community policing expertise are recipients of Royal Honours in the New Year list announced today.
 
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald, former Canterbury District Investigations Manager and now New Zealand Police Liaison Officer in Canberra, becomes an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to New Zealand Police and the community.  
 
Senior Constable Russ Smith, the Prevention, Youth and Community officer in Blenheim, Tasman District, becomes a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his services to Police and to youth.
 
Retired Detective Sergeant, and now a non-sworn member of police, Mike Keefe, has also received a Queens Service Medal for services to the community, after being nominated by a community member.  Mr Keefe has spent the last 30 years volunteering around the Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust.  He has been a Justice of Peace since 2000 and served more than 40 years with the New Zealand Police.
 
“This is fantastic news and reflects their dedicated work and the high regard in which they’re held,” Commissioner Mike Bush said.  
 
“Tom is one of our most experienced and respected investigators, having led numerous serious crime and high profile homicide teams in Canterbury and Southern Districts.  He is renowned for his focused, high performing approach combined with a desire to do what is right for victims."
 
“Russ’s forte is prevention, seeking out opportunities to develop and implement initiatives and programmes that benefit young people and others in the Marlborough Area.
“It’s great to see two officers who really understand policing being recognised with these honours.  We’re proud of them both.”
 
Detective Inspector Fitzgerald joined police in 1991 and has been an investigator since 1994.  His citation acknowledges his excellence in serious crime investigations and his work overseeing the Commission of Inquiry into the Pike River Coal Mine explosion and fatalities.
 
He was also instrumental in developing and implementing the national Confidential Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) management model.  Under Detective Inspector Fitzgerald’s leadership a multi-level training programme was introduced including the first level four CHIS management course in New Zealand, the highest accreditation that can be attained internationally. He has also written and delivered CHIS management training courses internationally.
 
Senior Constable Smith has been working in community and prevention roles in Blenheim since 1996, apart from a six month deployment to Timor Leste in 2010. A champion for youth and community based solutions, the citation makes special mention of Senior Constable Smith’s role in leading the Marlborough Youth Trust as chairman since 2007, his involvement with the Safe and Sound at the Top advisory group, his longstanding work with Marlborough Blue Light and the Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit and Support (CACTUS) programme in schools. Other activities include implementing an education and pastoral care package for Recognised Seasonal Employees in Marlborough and a project working with communities to physically clean up streets and properties, fostering pride within neighbourhoods.
 
The police recipients are surprised and delighted by news of their awards.
 
Detective Inspector Fitzgerald says it’s “incredibly humbling” that peers have taken the time to nominate him.
 
“I take a lot of pride as an investigator, leading and mentoring high performing teams. It’s an honour to lead investigations, and an honour to work for victims in the most tragic of circumstances.”
 
He’s especially proud of what is being achieved through CHIS and the interview management model.
 
“It’s world leading and I’m lucky to have had executive support which values the role of CHIS and its importance to policing.”
 
Prevention is the heartbeat of policing, says Senior Constable Smith who is “thrilled to bits” with the community focus of his award.
 
“Working together with youth and community groups instead of in silos is really rewarding.  Programmes such as CACTUS and the mini PCT challenges we run in colleges with Blue Light are opportunities for young people to see police in a positive light.”
 
He has been involved with the Marlborough Youth Trust for more than 10 years, working with young people at all levels across the community, including those at risk.
 
“Taking the time to listen to ideas from young people, working out together what is feasible and what’s not, being open and flexible to change is what drives community spirit.”
 
Recipients of New Year Honours will be invested with their awards by the Governor General in ceremonies at a date to be announced.
 
Mike Keefe was a key player in the formation of the Whakatupato programme, an initiative providing national firearms safety training to remote and rural communities.
 
Photos:
 
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald ONZM
 
Senior Constable Russ Smith MNZM
 
Ends