Superintendent John Price was welcomed to Canterbury District in a traditional pöwhiri at Tuahiwi Marae this week. Superintendent Price takes over the mantle of District Commander from Superintendent Gary Knowles who led Canterbury Police from 2012-2015 and is now the New Zealand Police Liaison Officer for South and South East Asia based in Thailand.
A trained teacher, Superintendent Price joined New Zealand Police in 1987. During a largely Wellington centric Police career Superintendent Price worked on several high profile murder investigations and child abuse cases while part of the CIB. He’s also held leadership roles in Intelligence, Specialist Search, Policing Development and Crime Control. In 2005 he moved to Christchurch before being deployed to Thailand after the tsunami in a DVI Ante-Mortem Commander role.
As Operations Commander in Christchurch Superintendent Price managed the Rescue and Search Phase following the 22 February 2011 aftershock before taking the role of Acting Canterbury District Commander. In January 2012 he moved north once more to be Area Commander Kapiti Mana and in December 2012 was presented with his Superintendent Insignia at the Royal New Zealand Police College where he took on the role of National Manager: Training and Development.
A married father of three Superintendent Price says he’s very proud to be back in Canterbury and is looking forward to building on the achievements of the Canterbury team. “I have known Superintendent Knowles for many years and wish him well in his new role South and South East Asia. We have over 30 Police Stations in Canterbury and around a thousand staff. It’s important to me that all our staff feel part of the team and whilst I’m based in the District Headquarters in Christchurch I will be travelling around the District over the coming months to meet as many of them as possible. Policing is always about the people, our community and our staff.”
“My last role at the college included responsibility for the Police Dog Training Centre at Trentham. One of the last puppies to be born before I moved to Christchurch was Wookie (pictured) who is unusual as he is a long-haired German Shepherd. He hasn’t started his training yet but it was great to see he’d followed me down to Canterbury where he is being fostered by one of our experienced Dog Handlers. We’ll be posting photos of him on our Canterbury Police Facebook page as he grows up and hopefully we’ll see him graduating in a couple of years and joining his handler on patrol”
“A Cantabrian by birth coming home to lead Canterbury District is a pinnacle in my career. We have a motivated and dedicated team of people working to ensure that everyone can be safe and feel safe in their homes, at work and while they explore our amazing District” said Superintendent Price
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa-Marie Brooks, District Communications Manager, Canterbury Police District. Mobile: 021 942 404
