Pride and poignancy were in the air when the 83 new constables of Recruit Wing 387 graduated this month.
The pride was in the achievement of the new constables graduating from 20 tough weeks of initial training at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC).
Don’t underestimate what you’ve done, Commissioner Richard Chambers told them – only 10 applicants in every 100 get through.
The poignancy came with the presence on the dais of a delegation from Victoria Police, visiting the Royal New Zealand Police College to observe its mahi.
Around a week earlier they had lost two colleagues with the killing on duty of Senior Constable Vadim De Waart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson.
A minute’s silence was observed and Commissioner Chambers invited members of the group to join the inspection of the parade. The fact that Vic's Senior Constable Rob Chappell was able to inspect his best mate - soon-to-be New Zealand Police Constable Jason Wright - among the graduates underscored the closeness of trans-Tasman policing bonds.
Some of our guests from Victoria Police on the dais.
Commissioner Chambers thanked the family and loved ones present at the ceremony at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua. Policing isn’t easy, he told them.
“Sometimes this uniform masks the real people that go about their duties across the country… dealing with some of the most tricky, volatile and tragic situations any human being could ever deal with.
“Thank you to all of you for the support you are going to be providing to my new colleagues in New Zealand Police.”
The Wing Patron was Jude Simpson MNZM, who has used the hardships of her earlier life to benefit thousands of Police recruits as a Family Harm trainer at the RNZPC.
Being on site as Wing 387 trained, she said, she had become a bit of a meerkat “popping up all over the place” to check in on them.
“I got to watch their confidence grow. I saw them form connections with others, I saw them show such huge determination to get to the end goal, which is where we’re at today.”
As she addressed the ceremony, she wore a korowai made for her and presented to her by the wing.
'You’ve inspired us to lead with empathy and courage' - Constable Laura Comerford and Patron Jude Simpson MNZM.
Giving the customary Leadership Award winner’s speech, Constable Laura Comerford (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Tapuika/Te Arawa, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Wellington District) thanked Jude – “the incredible woman you are”.
“You have walked through hardship with grace and your story has shown us that strength comes not from hiding our struggles but from owning them and using them to help others…
“You’ve inspired us to lead with empathy and courage.”
Laura thanked the trainers and college staff – “the impact you’ve had will carry through every callout, every community interaction and every decision we make” – and their families and loved ones.
It was a first graduation in charge for Superintendent Sam Keats since he took the helm as Director of the RNZPC.
He thanked college staff – “your mahi is immense” – and the families and loved ones present.
“Thank you for lending us your loved ones for 20 long weeks,” he said. “You trusted us to look after them, to help shape them and return them to you safe and sound.
“Without your love, support and sacrifice they would not be standing here today.”
Commissioner Chambers and Superintendent Sam Keats - in his first graduation in charge - both acknowledged loved ones for their support of Police staff.
Wing members brought the customary boggling diversity of background and life experience.
They were born as far afield as England and China and spoke more than a dozen languages other than English.
There were accomplished sports people, former members of the armed services, volunteers, members with family links to Police – and plenty with previous employee roles in the organisation.
Constable Sarah Thomas (Wellington) says previous jobs as a defensive tactics trainer at the RNZPC and in Emergency Communications and Dispatch stood her in good stead.
It’s hard to argue with that - Sarah earned both the Minister’s Award for First in Wing and, perhaps not surprisingly, the award for Physical Training and Defensive Tactics.
“I've wanted to be a police officer since I was in my early 20s,” she says. “Here I am now, 20 years later, finally fulfilling that dream.
“Life threw a few curve balls which meant it didn't happen earlier, but I know that everything I have done shaped me to be the person I am today and helped me come into this with the attitude I have.”
Second in Wing Constable Dan Brown (Canterbury) also worked as a Police communicator. His mother was a member of the Australian Federal Police.
He is also a qualified mechanical engineer and raced – with some success - in the New Zealand Formula 1600 Championship motorsports.
He says he loved the college experience and building bonds with his wingmates.
“Learning the ins and outs of such a rewarding career was something I’ll never forget,” he says. “There were plenty of ‘pinch me’ moments where I couldn’t believe this was my job.”
Kaumātua Papa Jack and Papa Henare watch proceedings.
Despite Dan’s expertise behind the wheel, the Driver Training Award went to Constable Valentine Beattie (Ngāti Kahungunu, Eastern District), whose father-in-law is a police officer. She says one of her goals is to join the Armed Offenders Squad.
“Personally, the hardest part of training at RNZPC would have been learning the offences verbatim for our exams. Studying with a good group was super helpful!”
Constable Nathan Forster (Waitematā) won the Firearms award. Nathan is a former Queensland Police officer – and before that a member of the Australian Army - who moved to New Zealand because his wife is a Kiwi.
“For my family, the decision to move back to New Zealand was about coming home to a place we’ve always felt connected to,” he says.
“When that opportunity came up, I knew I wanted to continue my policing career - it's work I’m genuinely passionate about. Joining New Zealand Police has allowed me to support my family’s move while staying in a role that I love.”
More about Wing 387
Awards
Minister’s Award for first in Wing; and Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Sarah Thomas (Wellington)
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Constable Laura Comerford (Wellington)
Patron’s Award for Second in Wing: Constable Daniel Brown (Canterbury)
Firearms Award: Constable Nathan Forster (Waitematā)
Driver Training and Road Policing Award: Constable Valentine Beattie (Eastern)
Award winners, from left: Constables Nathan Forster, Laura Comerford, Sarah Thomas, Valentine Beattie and Dan Brown.
Demographics
25.3 percent of Wing 387 were female, 74.7 percent male. New Zealand European made up 68 percent of the wing, with Māori 12 percent, Pasifika 4.8 percent, Asian 12 percent, LAAM 2.4 percent.
Members’ ages range from 19 to 48.
Deployment
The new constables started their first day of duty in their Police districts last week (Monday 15 September). They were posted as follows:
Northland 1; Waitematā 4; Auckland City 5; Counties Manukau 13; Waikato 9; Bay of Plenty 10; Eastern 2; Central 7; Wellington 16; Canterbury 8; Southern 7.
The Patron
Jude Simpson MNZM is a family harm education and training specialist. She is passionate about empowering victims of family harm to live their life to their full potential.
Jude has worked for 11 years at the RNZPC as lead Family Harm Facilitator. She designed, developed and delivers training for recruits on family harm from the perspectives of a victim and a perpetrator. This contributes to a full view of family harm and how to respond to it with empathy and understanding.
Jude has also worked for Presbyterian Support Northern as a Family Violence Advocate and in this role designed, developed and delivered a programme for the Department of Corrections focusing on low-risk women offenders, aiming to build self-esteem and empower and support the women into work or training.
She was the lead female spokesperson for the It’s Not OK national campaign for several years and helped raise awareness of family harm and the needs of victims.
In 2018 Jude was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her contribution and work relating to family harm.