Home and work combine for sole-charge officer

For nearly five years, Constable Dave Kirk has called Pongaroa both home and work.

The farming community, about 60km east of Pahiatua, is at the heart of the largest geographic area for sole-charge policing, incorporating six communities – Pongaroa, Mākuri, Ākitio, Herbertville, Tiraumea and Weber.

Dave joined Police on April Fool’s Day 1996 after a 20-year career as an Armourer in the Air Force. After four years in Dannevirke he took up the job in Pongaroa where he owns a farm with his trained ambulance officer wife, Fenn and two daughters.

“When the phone rings in the middle of the night I’ve got to decide whether it’s police comms, ambulance comms or does the fire brigade want me?,” he jokes.

Dave’s patch is vast, but with a small population – a combination that presents particular challenges.

“Isolation’s a big thing. My nearest back-up, depending on where the job is, could be at least an hour-and-a-half away either from Dannevirke, Pahiatua or Eketahuna.

“But I’m a member of the fire brigade as well, so if it hits the fan they back me up pretty well.”

The geographic isolation also brings some technological problems such as dead spots on the police radio and no cellphone coverage.

Domestic violence, burglary and drink driving are the more prevalent crimes, and until the Council imposed a liquor ban last year, New Year’s Eve celebrations used to get out of hand. But speeding is fairly rare in the area, mainly because the roads are in such poor condition – a hangover from severe flooding in 2004.

As well as general policing, Dave is the district coordinator for aerial cannabis recovery. In 2003 he assisted Detective Sergeant Grayson Joines in overseeing ‘Operation By Hoki’, a major local bust resulting in four arrests and the forfeiture of assets and land under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

During Ten-One’s visit with Dave he gave a presentation to the Pahiatua Probus Club on the operation. Local Tararua TV recorded the presentation to edit and later broadcast to a viewing audience of around 4000 people.

He is also the land and marine SAR coordinator for the Tararua area and works closely with MAF Fisheries Officers to police undersize and excess quotas.

Dave’s recipe for keeping the peace is to be integrated fully into the community and to be firm but fair.

“If you alienate yourself from the community you pack your bags and you go,” he says.

Being a local farmer himself, president of the squash club, community member and regular visitor to the schools, Dave says other locals are good sources of intel.

“Cockies are quite happy to sidle up to you at the local stock sales and say ‘have you seen this’ or ‘I’ve got a bit of information for you’.

“But a lot of this job is being out and about and being seen … and I turn up in some pretty obscure places at odd times just to keep people on their toes.”

His regular, humorous and straight to the point newsletter – called ‘Plods Page’ – and community meetings both help keep locals informed and aware of what’s going on in the community from a policing perspective.

“Political correctness is probably not one of my strong points.”

That said, Dave reckons he’s in Pongaroa for the long-haul.

“I see myself here till the end of my career. I intend to do good by the community. I think they appreciate my being here. Those that don’t, I’ve probably just locked them up anyway.”