Seventy-seven new constables will graduate from the Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday. Of special significance for Wing 282 is that this will be the sixteenth and final recruit graduation ceremony for Commissioner Peter Marshall before he retires in April.
When Commissioner Marshall addressed the wing on Wednesday during the Attestation Ceremony (swearing in ceremony), he reminded them that they are joining an organisation where they swear an oath to serve without favour or affection and to keep the peace.
In what was a poignant but at times light-hearted occasion, Commissioner Marshall likened the swearing and signing of the Police Oath to that of a marriage, and in his case a union lasting 42 years.
For new Constable Gavin Smith, who will graduate from Police College on Valentine’s Day eve, it is a case of the Police Oath first, and marriage vows later. Gavin is scheduled to marry his partner next weekend and says that February 2014 is set to be one of the most momentous months of his life.
Gavin holds a trade certificate in composite and wooden boat building, and these skills took him around the world to work in Mauritius, Egypt, England and Australia.
Wing 282 is a well travelled wing with members living overseas as part of their OE, competing in international sports events, or working as professional sportspeople before choosing a vocation where they will defend New Zealander’s values and protect and uphold the law.
In keeping with the nautical theme, Constable James Maloney, who took out the award for first in wing, spent his formative years competitively sailing at national and international levels.
“The highlight of my sailing career was winning the 2011 RC’44 World Series. Sailing opened the doors to some great life experiences and enabled me to see a lot of the world,” says James.
Constable Junior Tausili was selected for the Samoan rugby team in 2002. His rugby career saw him touring the Pacific Islands and South Africa. In 2003 he made the Canterbury NPC team and was then offered a contract with the Japanese Club Mitsubishi. After 5 years in Japan he returned to the domestic competition in New Zealand with Ponsonby and then the Auckland B’s. While on his OE, Junior was offered another rugby contract, this time for Strasbourg (France) where he spent the next two years before returning to New Zealand.
Constable Tausili says the strong focus on values was one aspect that inspired him to join the New Zealand Police.
“My experience playing rugby overseas taught me that good values are cross cultural and that people acknowledge and respect values even when you don’t speak the language.”
Wing 282 Patron, Belinda Clark, is a lawyer by training and has had a 30-year career in the New Zealand State Sector, encompassing policy, operations and organisational development across a range of senior executive roles.
Members of Wing 282 have been posted to stations throughout the country.
They will be posted to:
Northland: Kaikohe (2), Kerikeri (3)
Auckland: FTU Otahuhu (13)
Waitematä: FTU Otahuhu (6)
Counties-Manukau: Manurewa (3), Ormiston (10), Otahuhu (3), Papakura (1), FTU Otahuhu (1)
Waikato: Hamilton (4)
Bay of Plenty: Tauranga (1), Tokoroa (1), Rotorua (1)
Eastern: Gisborne (1), Hastings (1), Napier (1)
Central: Hawera (1), Palmerston North (2), Whanganui (1)
Wellington: Hutt Valley (4), Wairarapa (1), Wellington (7), Kapiti-Mana (2)
Canterbury: Christchurch (6), Timaru (1)
Wing 282 award winners:
• Minister’s Award for First in Wing was awarded to Constable James Maloney, posted to Auckland. Constable Maloney was also awarded the Academic Award (for the overall winner of Academic Exams 1, 2 and 3).
• Commissioner’s Award for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Rebecca Henricksen, posted to Central.
• Patron’s Award for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Sean Chan, posted to Waitematä.
• The Prevention Award (overall winner in practical assessments and fingerprinting) was awarded to Constable Rhiannon Jones, posted to Waikato. The Prevention Award is supported by the Crimestoppers Trust.
• The Leadership Award (in recognition of having demonstrated outstanding leadership and potential to succeed) was awarded to Constable Aaron Ferguson, posted to Auckland. This award is supported by the Porirua City Council. Constable Ferguson was also jointly awarded the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award (top students in all defensive tactics assessments) and the Section Two Section Achievement Award.
• The Information Technology Skills Award (overall winner in computer skills and skills files) was awarded to Constable Sarah Inglewood, posted to Canterbury.
• The Tactical Skills and Safety Award (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) was awarded to Constable Cameron Costley, posted to Canterbury. Constable Costley was also jointly awarded the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award (top students in all defensive tactics assessments).
• The Weapon Training Award (for the top student in all firearms assessments) was awarded to Constable Elisa Marneth-Rust, posted to Waikato.
• The Driver Training Award (for the top student in all driver training assessments) was awarded to Constable Paul Jury, posted to Northland.
Police Association Awards for Section Achievement: This is awarded to an individual from each section who, in the collective view of the members of the section and the wing instructors, made the greatest contribution to the overall success of the team.
• Section One Constable Jordan Adamski, posted to Counties-Manukau.
• Section Two Constable Aaron Ferguson, posted to Auckland.
• Section Three Constable Shannae Pikett-Walsh, posted to Counties-Manukau.
• Section Four Constable James McNeill, posted to Canterbury.
Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 13 February at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Police, the Hon Anne Tolley, and Police Commissioner Peter Marshall.
Ends
Released by: Penny Clevely
Communications Manager: RNZPC/ TSC
Tel: 04 238 3572 | Mobile: 021 1922 181
Email: penelope.clevely@police.govt.nz
