Wednesday, 13 February 2019 - 2:16pm |
National News

Making a splash with 80 new frontline cops

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Wing 323

Eighty new constables will join their friends and family in celebrating their graduation at The Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) this week.

Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement, other members of the Police Executive and Hon Stuart Nash will also be present at the ceremony on Thursday 14 February.

Wing Patron Jenny-May Clarkson is unable to attend, but spent Tuesday with her wing. Jenny-May is a well-known face on New Zealand television, as a news and sports presenter and a former sporting star. Jenny-May’s first career was in Police, serving for nine years as a constable in Hamilton.

Aged between 18 and 48, Wing 323 began their studies at RNZPC in October last year and come from varied backgrounds.

Several women in the wing have enjoyed success on the water through rowing. Constable Sasha Ballantyne has won two national titles in surf boat rowing, while Constable Angie Keen represented New Zealand last weekend in a surf boat competition against fierce rivals Australia, just after she sat her final exam at Police College.

Another new constable, Lucy Jonas, has also represented New Zealand in rowing, involved in lightweight sculling for the New Zealand Rowing Team.

“Sport has helped me to develop a high level of mental resilience and good cognitive function. I’ve joined Police to have a positive impact on my community and country, to be part of a team working towards a common goal, and to contribute my own skills and strengths,” says Lucy.

Sasha is posted to Waitematā District, Angie to Central District and Lucy to Southern District.

Successful on land and in the water, Constable Cooper Rand has travelled the world as a professional triathlete. Cooper helped with the police response to the Tasman fires earlier this week, part of a contingent of 37 new constables from the wing who volunteered to help. Cooper will be working in Counties Manukau District after graduating.

Several of the new constables worked for Police before their recruit training. Constable Amy Price worked in the Firearms Licensing Office in Christchurch for a year, but her interest in policing started long before that, with her father long-serving police officer Superintendent John Price, Canterbury’s District Commander.

Amy is posted to Canterbury District, and will be based out of Rangiora station – away from her father’s direct oversight.

Many of the wing’s constables speak fluently a number of languages, such as Afrikaans, Hindi, Malayalam, Mandarin, Samoan and Tamil, reflecting the wing’s ethnic and cultural diversity.

Constable Corey Fung speaks Cantonese, and says he gave up a career in real estate because he has a passion for helping people. “In real estate I was able to help people find their dream home, but helping others through policing is more rewarding. My understanding of the Chinese and Kiwi cultures, and both English and Cantonese, will be far more useful in Police than in any other job to benefit others.”

Cory is posted to Counties Manukau District.

Awards

Minister’s Award recognising top student – Constable Eilysh Harman, Tasman District

Patron’s Award, recognising second top student – Constable Oliver Casey, Bay of Plenty District

Commissioner’s Award for Leadership – Constable Ryan Kerr-Bell, Waikato District

Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award – Constable Kieran Anderson, Central District

Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award – Constable Lucy Jonas, Southern District

Firearms Award – Constable Jesse Ruru, Auckland City District

Deployment information

The new constables will have a one-week break before starting duties in their districts. The wing is being dispersed as follows:

Northland – 4

Waitemata – 10

Auckland – 10

Counties Manukau – 11

Waikato – 6

Bay of Plenty – 9

Eastern – 6

Central – 7

Wellington – 3

Tasman – 2

Canterbury – 7

Southern – 5

Media

Media are welcome to attend the Graduation Parade, which takes place at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua. The ceremony starts at 2.00pm on Thursday. Any media wishing to attend the graduation should contact the Police Media Centre by 5pm Wednesday at media@police.govt.nz.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre
 

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