Police News May 09.indd - New Zealand Police Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceI am currently a dog handler and enjoying theposition. But in looking ahead to what I’d liketo achieve within my career, I took the adviceof a wise senior sergeant that was in chargeof a Community Policing Centre (CPC) I wasworking at some time ago.He got a group of us young eager cops togetherand told us that we should all be doingpromotional exams. (You never know what’saround the corner so to speak). We all took thebull by the horns, got a study group togetherand sat a few exams and did Practical Duties (P& D) etc.The information and skills I learned while doingthese exams, I use everyday on the street. Having12 years experience, I am often the seniormember on duty and giving advice/assistanceto the newer constables, thereby enabling themto improve their own skills and abilities to dealwith situations.It is disappointing and frustrating to think that,as my dog will probably work with me for morethan five years before he retires, I will then haveto redo these exams under the current systemshould I choose to seek promotion.I have no issue with the new exam itself but withthe new system around expiry of them.Many people within the Police are academicswho at some point or other have done universitypapers and the like. If these people wereinformed that their degrees or diplomas meantnothing after five years and none of the papersthey sat could be cross-credited they would bemightily upset.As did most who sat these exams when I did,we all took a couple of weeks leave to studythrough the material. Is the department goingto refund us the leave we took to study for theseexams as that was the only reason we took it atthe time?I think some serious issues have been createdhere around “employer fairness” and wonder ifthe Association as our representative is going tochallenge this new system?Jason Page(Wanganui)Police have indicated that they will address theissues you raise in the next issue of Police News- Editor.The random views ofa campervan driverIn mid-January we were travelling south on StateHighway 1 somewhere between Taihape andBulls, thoroughly enjoying the unfolding viewsof ‘God’s Own’. We were part way through apassing lane when we were overtaken by a ‘blueand white’, which stopped a little way ahead ofus. We reached the end of the overtaking lanewith the only vehicle in sight being the parked‘blue & white’.We had travelled on for about five minutes or so,including a couple of hills, when I noticed a fewcars in a line behind me (about four, I think).We watched out for a place to let them overtake,and stopped. I was about to pull out again whenI noticed that the ‘blue and white’ was stoppedimmediately behind me with his lights flashing.The officer approached the driver’s door andspoke to me through the window. His firstwords were: “I saw at least two or three placeswhere you could have pulled over before now”.I was about to make some comments but luckilymy mouth and brain were both engaged, for Icould see that this officer was not about to enterinto any discussion about this.At the time, we were travelling in a seven-metremotor caravan towing a small car on an “A”frame. I got to thinking about what is and is nota suitable place to pull over and therefore offerthe following suggestions:1. Don’t stop when there is a ‘no passing lane’indicated unless it is possible to get rightoff the road. Who would be at fault if thevehicle crossed the yellow line and had anaccident?2. Stopping after a bend often does not givetime to stop safely.3. Is the verge wide enough - flat enough?It can be hard to tell how flat the verge isbecause the grass is often cut flat hiding asudden drop away.4. Broken edges of bitumen can be dangerousto a vehicle braking. Tyres for our van costabout $400 each.5. Traveling at about 80 to 85 kph how longdoes it take to stop safely? It’s amazing thenumber of drivers who tailgate, thinking itwill make us travel faster. In fact, often theyare not even visible to the driver.6. Stopping on an uphill also causes moredelays. If they think I am slow in secondgear wait till I have to start off again in first.The above are just a few thoughts I’ve had aboutstopping since this incident. Most, if not all theabove things have to be taken into considerationwhen deciding to pull over - often without muchtime to think about it. Each day we travel, I keepa note of distance traveled and time taken - ouraverage speed most days works out to be about60kph.Finally, I would like to point out that acampervan is far removed in terms of power andhandling from a Police patrol car.Peter Nisbet(Buckland’s Beach)“The moment the slave resolvesthat he will no longer be a slave,his fetters fall. He frees himself andshows the way to others. Freedomand slavery are mental states.”- Mahatma Gandhi.“Sometimes when you innovate,you make mistakes. It is best toadmit them quickly, and get on withimproving your own innovations.”- Steve Jobs (co-founder of AppleComputers).“Always forgive your enemies -nothing annoys them as much.”- Oscar Wilde.Useful Information & ContactsNew Zealand Police Association:For immediate industrial & legal advice(on matters that cannot be deferred such as Policeshootings, fatal pursuits or deaths in custody)ring 0800 TEN NINE (0800 836 6463)– 24 hour/seven days servicePolice Network 44446 Website www.policeassn.org.nzFreephone 0800 500 122 Police Home Loans 0800 800 808Police Health Plan/Police Fire and General Insurance Police Credit Union 0800 429 000Quotes & information 0800 500 122 or (04) 472 9645or Fax (04) 496 6819 Credit Union www.policecu.org.nzPolice Fire and General Insurance claims 0800 110 088 GSF information 0800 654 731All enquiries (04) 496 6800 PSS information 0800 777 243Vice PresidentsStuart Mills (027) 268 9416Chris Cahill (027) 268 9411Field OfficersAuckland District: Stewart Mills (027) 268 9407Waitemata and Northland Districts: Steve Hawkins (027) 268 9406Waikato, BOP and Eastern Districts: Graeme McKay (027) 268 9408Central and Wellington Districts: JJ Taylor (027) 268 9409Tasman and Canterbury Districts: Dave McKirdy (027) 268 9410Southern District Dave Steel (027) 268 9427Regional DirectorsRegion One Jug Price Whangaparaoa (027) 268 9419Region Two Dave Pizzini Counties-Manukau (027) 493 0524Region Three Mel Ridley Tauranga (027) 268 9414Region Four Luke Shadbolt Hastings (027) 478 9001Region Five Ron Lek Wellington (027) 268 9417Region Six Craig Prior Sydenham (027) 268 9412Region Seven Tracey Maclennan Invercargill (027) 268 9418106May 2009
Do you want good working conditions?Are you paying high rent?Are you interested in lifestyle?…if so – Westport needs you!WESTPORTNew Zealand’s best kept secret!It’s clichéd advertising, but are you tired of traffi c jams andthe rat race in general? Fed up with pollution and litter inthe streets? Leave the cities behind and enter one of themost clean and natural environments New Zealand has tooffer. Bask in the magnifi cent scenery, explore our naturalforest walkways, or set your own path. Visit the wealth ofhistoric sites - plentiful throughout the region.Westport township situated at the mouth of the mightyBuller River was founded 150 years ago on gold, coal andtimber. This historic town is nestled away at the foot of thePaparoa Mountains to the east and the Tasman Sea to thewest. The town population is 6,000, with the Buller Districttotal being 11,000.Westport has a station of one senior sergeant, one sergeant,seven constables and one detective. There is an on-callsituation; an on-call allowance is paid.The Police District contains two one-man stations, at Granity andKaramea. Reefton to the south has a three man station. Westport issituated in the Tasman region with the Headquarters being based inNelson. Local large employers are the Milburn Cement Company andSolid Energy New Zealand Limited.Town amenitiesThe main street has a good range of shops with most tastes cateredfor. Foodstuffs (and wine and beer) can be purchased at either NewWorld or Fresh Choice Supermarkets. We don’t have a KFC, but we dohave eight pubs on the main street, plus a Workingmen’s Club and anRSA. Local restaurants cater for the hungry with whitebait being aspeciality. That’s if you are too lazy to catch your own.There is a good library and a video outlet which takes care of thewinter nights (during the summer you won’t want to stay at home),plus a spectacular new sports complex with three indoor pools, gym,Tauranga Bay is one of seven beaches in the local area.“Westport police staff and their families enjoy some white water rafting - one of the manyoutdoor attractions Westport has to offer.squash courts and a large fl oodlit outdoor hockey turf. Want to shop abit further a fi eld – then Nelson is only three hours away, Christchurchfour and Greymouth an hour.Medical facilitiesThere are two medical centres with resident doctors. Buller Hospitalhas an acute ward plus a geriatric ward. Greymouth Hospital some90 kilometres away is the base hospital and both elective and acutesurgery is carried out here. The local St Johns is staffed by bothprofessional and volunteer staff.SchoolsWestport is well served with education facilities which are comprisedof a co-ed high school, three primary schools and a kindergarten.There is also a day care centre and a parents’ centre. All schools arewithin cycling or walking distance.AttractionsSports: Rugby, soccer, hockey, netball, basketball, cricket, bowls(indoor and outdoor), croquet, golf (18 hole all weather course).Recreation: Fishing (salt and fresh), hunting (deer–red and fallow),tramping, climbing, mountain biking, gold prospecting, jet boating,sailing, whitebaiting, skiing, bush walks, squash, tennis, exploring andmore…House values average between $160,000 and $340,000 and rentalproperties average between $210 and $350.If you want further information please contact:O/C WestportArea Commander(03) 788-8310 (03) 768-1600or go to www.bullerdc.govt.nz
Page 1: The Voice of PoliceVOLUME 42 • NU
Page 5 and 6: New Zealand Police AssociationNearl
Page 7 and 8: New Zealand Police AssociationStudi
Page 9: New Zealand Police Association“Th
Page 12 and 13: PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceThe Na
Page 14 and 15: PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceHogan
Page 16 and 17: PoliceNewsThe Voice of Policevirtua
Page 18 and 19: PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceThis c
Page 20 and 21: PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceBelow
Page 22 and 23: PoliceNewsThe Voice of Police• Ma
Page 24 and 25: 104 May 2009• (Top left): Hawera
Page 28: member discountsNEW ZEALAND POLICE

Police News May 09.indd - New Zealand Police Association

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?