A report about the driving behaviour of a Hawke’s Bay high school student has been the catalyst to a series of events that have led to a positive outcome and a potential future Police recruit.
Hastings Boys High School (HBHS) contacted School Community Officer Senior Constable Chris Leppien, after receiving complaints from members of the public about the driving behaviour of a student in HBHS uniform.
She headed to the school the following day and pulled over the offending vehicle when it left school.
The driver of the vehicle was 16-year-old Arkyss, who was on a learner licence and had three mates in his vehicle.
Chris issued him a ticket and he was taken home by Road Policing Constable Jason Spence, who discovered Arkyss had a dream of becoming a police officer and was already attending the weekly Police Recruit Training sessions.
Chris returned to school the following day and offered to help him get his restricted licence, with parental consent. She shared the Cruisin' with Chrissy driver education resource and Arkyss would walk to the Police station to meet Chris after work for driving lessons.
“Driving lessons provided the opportunity to have mum talks with him about the importance of following the rules, making good choices, not caving to peer pressure and that Police want role models," says Chris.
A month late, Arkyss sat and passed his restricted licence.
Arkyss says he wouldn’t have got his restricted licence without Chris.
“She helped me with the tools I needed to get my licence, but she also made me realise the importance of sticking to the road and licence rules and why they are in place.”
Arkyss says he has learnt his lesson and is focused on his future, which he hopes will one day see him become a police officer.