Staff honoured in Queen's Birthday list

Eight currently serving or former police staff were named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

To be a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for Public Services (QSO)

Former Deputy Commissioner Steve Long served Police for almost 40 years and held a range of senior command and administrative positions, including Deputy Commissioner (Operations), General Manager of Police Training and District Commander of North Shore/Waitakere District. In the 1980s he was part of a team that developed and oversaw the introduction of the Community Oriented Policing initiative that required enhanced consultation and partnership between the Police and communities. He was instrumental in developing the training materials used to launch dedicated Child Abuse investigation teams in the 1980s and was a principal reviewer of investigation processes and practices in the 1990s. He has performed significant command roles in the security operations for Royal Tours and the 1997 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. He led the process of ensuring a Māori perspective was incorporated into all aspects of the police training curriculum and has been prominent in encouraging and supporting women in policing. He was involved in leading NZ Police and NZ Government efforts to build law enforcement capability through the Pacific region during the 1980s and was secretary to the South Pacific Chiefs of Police. He was senior officer in the initial deployment of NZ Police officers to Phuket, Thailand to assist the disaster victim identification process required as a result of the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami.

The Queen’s Service Medal for Public Services (QSM)

Anne Corbett has served the NZ Police for more than 25 years, initially as a constable for 10 years before returning to the force as a nonsworn member. She is currently Team Leader in the Northern Region Communications Centre. She was a member of the RAMSI Operation Galaxy Contingent in the Solomon Islands for six months until May 2006, where she was responsible for one of the shifts at the Royal Solomon Islands Police Communications Centre. She also acted as Team Leader/Communications Manager at the Centre and built effective relationships with senior Solomon Islands Force members and participating police force management.

Sergeant Luke Crawford is Pouwhakataki (iwi liaison coordinator) at Wellington District Headquarters. He has served the Police in Kilbirnie, Lower Hutt, Ngāruawāhia, Taumarunui and the Royal New Zealand Police College. He has instituted a number of programmes, including a community care and crisis group, the school holiday programme in Taumarunui and commenced Project Walkthrough involving Māori Wardens walking around licensed premises in the Hutt Valley. He has also taken at risk youth to Mokoia Island to build self esteem and instil a greater sense of responsibility. He has also organised whakairo carvings at police stations.

Retired Senior Sergeant David Donaldson served for 38 years as a police officer during which time he developed very constructive relationships with a number of strategic partners, including the Rotorua District Council, the Department for Courts and the Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society. He was a police sportsman and administrator, receiving the Police Sports Administrator of the Year award and a Commissioner’s Award for his service to the New Zealand Police. He has been president of the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club for more than 10 years, represented New Zealand on several occasions and organised the successful bid for Rotorua to host the International Mountain Biking Championships in 2006.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Hewett has served more than 35 years in the Criminal Investigation Branch. He has been in charge of the Invercargill CIB since 1998. He has worked on many high profile cases in Hastings, Invercargill and Wellington and was one of the original investigators during the formation of the Child Sexual Abuse investigation team formed in the 1990s. He has also contributed to his community, including being a player, manager, coach and supporter of the Blues Rugby Club for many years, team official for the Southland Provincial Rugby Team in the 1990s and supporter of Cycling Southland.

Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Oxnam (left) is currently officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Branch in Porirua. He is a high profile officer who has directed a number of serious criminal enquiries, together with several high profile homicides. He has been described as one of New Zealand’s top detectives. He helped found the WellTrust, a secondary school alcohol and drug support service in Wellington in 2000 and uses every opportunity to promote the need for drug education and awareness. He is a member of the Plimmerton School Parent Teacher Association and led several projects, including upgrading and heating the school swimming pool.

Retired Inspector Colin Vlietstra (left) was posted on secondment to the Royal Solomon Island Police as Superintendent-Chief of Staff on three separate Regional Assistance Missions from 2004 to 2006. He was deployed to the Solomon Islands for six months in 2004, eight months in 2005 and five months until March 2006. He has been involved in the destruction of over 3,800 firearms, the Rove Prison Riots in 2004 and administrative reviews and planning for the Force.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to the Community (MNZM)