Police News June 09.indd - New Zealand Police Association

The Voice of PoliceVOLUME 42 • NUMBER 5 • JUNE 2009Colleagues paytribute to a“quiet achiever”Len Snee – a man of greatmana is farewelled■ A NATION GRIEVES FOR A CONSUMMATE POLICEMAN■ GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES $10M TASER FUNDING■ ASSOCIATION WELCOMES YOUTH OFFENDER LEGISLATION

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceThe Voice of PoliceVOLUME VOLLLMEEE42 • NUMBER R4 5 • JUNE MAY 200909112A CHAMPION BLOKE FAREWELLEDNZ Police Association Police News is the magazine ofthe New Zealand Police Association and incorporates theNew Zealand Police Journal fi rst published in 1937.June 2009, Vol. 42, No.5ISSN 1175-9445Deadline for next issue Monday, June 15, 2009.Published by the New Zealand Police AssociationP.O. Box 12344, Willbank House, 57 Willis Street, Wellington.Phone: (04) 496 6800, Facsmile: (04) 471 1309Email: editor@policeassn.org.nzWebsite: www.policeassn.org.nzPrinted by City Print Communications, Wellington.Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of theAssociation.COPYRIGHT: NZPA Police News must not be reproduced inpart or as a whole without the formal consent of the copyrightholder - the New Zealand Police Association.125A CHAMPION PAIR131A CHAMPION OF ENDURANCE• Front page: A CITY GRIEVES: They turned out in theirthousands in Napier to remember local cop Len Snee anda nation grieved with them. Described by colleagues as“the quintessential cop”, Len was a quiet achiever whowent about his duty with dignity and mana. His colleaguescarried him shoulder high and a city came together to paytheir respects to a local hero.- Photo courtesy of The Dominion Post and Napier Mail.ContentsFrom the President 111$10m to complete Taser roll out 111Obituary: Len Snee - a man of great mana 112/115Len Snee - the nemesis of cannabis growers 116Police Association welcomes new ‘gang patch’ Bill 116Organised Crime “biggest threat to law and order in New Zealand” 117Recognition of previous service for Long Service Leave 117South Australian motorcycle gangs make the move into politics 118AGMs provide your chance to make a difference 119Obituary: Jacob Schriek a man who lived his life to the full 120Obituary: Victor James Monteith Whyman 121Police Health Plan stalwart Sue Pearce retires 121/122Association welcomes proposed legislation for young offenders 123Autism and us 124/125Ila shows the boys how it’s done 125Police drummer excited to be performing at Edinburgh Tattoo 126Scrapping of whole of vehicle marking is “short sighted” 127Keen on Wine/Copper’s crossword 128Act of bravery earns officers second highest Police award 129View from the bottom/Holiday Home availability 130Sports News 131/135Boy racer legislation a step closer 132Introducing: Police Life Insurance Extra! 136Letters to the Editor 139Sth Australian gangs makethe move into politics – p118110June 2009

New Zealand Police Association$10 millionto completenational Taserroll outThe Police Association has welcomedthe Government’s funding to complete arollout of Tasers to all Police Districts.Police Association Vice-President StuartMills said the increasing violence faced bypolice officers on a daily basis is beyonddispute. “Tasers give officers an effectivemeans to protect themselves, and thepublic they serve, without being forced toresort to lethal force,” Mr Mills said.“There is no doubt Tasers will save livesand prevent serious injuries – not only ofofficers and members of public, but alsoof offenders.”Not immediately availableMr Mills noted the announcement didnot mean Tasers would be immediatelyavailable to all frontline officers.“With 86% of frontline General Dutiesofficers attacked by an offender lastyear, and 33% injured, in an idealworld, every officer would have a Taseravailable tomorrow. But we accept thereality is it will take time to issue thedevices and train staff to use them safelyand effectively.“The unpredictable nature of policingmeans even a seemingly routinecontact can suddenly develop into alife-threatening situation. That’s whythe Police Association has maintainedthroughout that all frontline officersshould ultimately be issued with Tasers,”Mr Mills said.“Today’s announcement is a very positiveand welcome step towards that goal,” headded.Extra money to equip all police districtswith Tasers has been included in theBudget.A total of $5.3 million in operating fundingwill be provided in 2009-10 to completedeployment of Tasers throughout thecountry, with another $4.2 million spreadacross the following three years to meetongoing costs. An additional $521,000 incapital funding will be provided in 2009-10 for computer systems supporting thedeployment of Tasers."The Government supports the use ofTasers as a vital tool to manage dangeroussituations and reduce potential harm tothe public and police officers," PoliceMinister Judith Collins said.“I reflect on the words of one officer I spoketo following the funeral. He said he was bloodyangry because Len was dead and he knowsnothing will change.”It seems unbelievable to becontemplating my third column within10 months where the topic is the murderof a member carrying out his duty.Derek Wootton and Don Wilkinson’sdeaths had the feel of one-off events,which just happened to have occurredclose together.Senior Constable Len Snee’s deliberateslaying in a nice suburb at 10 in themorning while carrying out as routinea piece of policing as is possible, withinmonths of the two other killings, elevatesthe tragedies into a whole differentspectrum.Underlying commentary in the past hasbeen that we do a dangerous job and it isinevitable that an officer will be killed orseriously hurt occasionally.It’s now not occasionally, it’s common- as is getting threatened and assaulted,with and without weapons.As reported last month, ironically twodays before Len’s death and the seriouswounding of Senior Constables GrantDiver and Bruce Miller, 43% of swornstaff reported being attacked at least oncein the past year. One in five were injuredin attacks.As I travel the country, I hear many‘bloody near’ stories and ‘near miss’stories.Against that backdrop, it’s probablysurprising there have not been moredeaths. Do we still remember our femalecolleague in Howick beaten unconsciousearlier in the year, just to name oneincident?We have had public and parliamentaryinquiries for less in the past.While we appreciate the outpouringof sympathy from public and politicalcommentators following these deaths,especially Len’s, I can’t help but wonderwhere these commentators would beif Len or Grant or Bruce had shot theoffender in Napier.While careful not to politicise theevent, I did take the opportunity duringinterviews in the wake of the shootingsto challenge the media and othercommentators to think about theirresponse when we take essential actionto defend ourselves.How many of us have the spectre ofConstable A in Waitara looming largeover us when dealing with violentoffenders? The reality is, using lethalforce can be as life changing for a policeofficer as being seriously injured by anoffender.Now that the adrenaline and emotion ofthe Napier incident has subsided and life‘normalises’, I reflect on the words of oneofficer I spoke to following the funeral.He said he was bloody angry becauseLen was dead and he knows nothing willchange.He’s right.How many deaths will it take beforeNew Zealanders decide that what we arecurrently doing is not working, either forpolice or the public?Three violent deaths of police officers in10 months is evidence of that.I haven’t heard calls for a summit ora Commission or even a review, thesort of response we always hear whenpoliticians believe they need to be seento do something.I wonder how many of us will need todie or be seriously injured before wereach that threshold?George Orwell said: “We sleep safe in ourbeds because rough men stand ready inthe night to visit violence on those whowould do us harm.”I conclude by wondering how safe ourpublic can feel in their beds knowing it istheir protectors who are having so muchviolence visited upon them. It rendersredundant themantra ‘safercommunitiestogether!’June 2009111

New Zealand Police Associationnamed in the “Best ever NZ Police Team”picked from all the NZ Police teams that hadplayed between 1981–1996.He was an excellent and tough player.In Wellington, he played for Titahi Bayand the Northern United Club. During hisplaying days for Combined Services, heplayed alongside All Blacks Wayne (Buck)Shelford, Geoff Old and Stu Conn. TVcommentator and former NZ Police andCombined Services team mate, Ken Laban,recalled ‘Lenny’ Snee fondly as a tough(mainly) second five-eighths player. “WhenLenny played in the midfield with EddieEllison (Tamati’s father) their tackling was sofierce they used to terrorise Wellington clubrugby.”Ex-All Black Jamie Salmon readily admits henever relished being marked by Lenny Snee,because of Len’s fearsome reputation as ahard tackler.Eastern Police Operations Manager,Inspector Mike O’Leary, described Len as“a cross between Tana Umaga and DanCarter.” Clearly not someone you wouldwant to be marking.39 first-class gamesLen joined the Napier Technical Club whentransferred north, playing 155 games in theirsenior team. His determination took him intothe Hawke’s Bay rep team in 1989, makinghis debut as a 30-year old. He appeared forHawke’s Bay in 1990 too. When his premiercareer finished, he had played 39 first classgames and he played for Technical’s thirdand fourth division sides for another decade,a reflection of his passion for the game. Thatlove of the game was passed on to sonsSam and Joe, who have both played in theHawke’s Bay.During a lengthy sporting career, Len alsoplayed soccer for Napier Marist and wasa scratch golfer at Napier’s Maraenui GolfClub, where he was the second-lowesthandicapper.He was the ultimate team player in his sportand his work.Great respectHe was a highly respected member of theArmed Offenders Squad and had earneda great deal of respect from his GeneralDuties Branch (GDB) colleagues. As an AOSmember he was the first on the scene whenConstable Glenn McKibbin, 25, was shotnext to his patrol car in Flaxmere, Hastings• Len Snee, on the break as a five-eighths during a NZ Police rugby match. Len representedthe NZ Police team for 11 years and played for the Combined Services side for eight years.- Photo courtesy of Joe Franklin, co-author and Editor of Police in Sport.• Former All Black Norm Hewitt (pictured at centre) was joined by around 100 others in thehaka as Len Snee’s casket was carried from the Municipal Theatre.- Photos courtesy of the Dominion Post/Andrew Gorrie.• Senior Constable Bruce Miller wascritically wounded with a gunshot wound.- Photo courtesy of the Napier Mail.• Senior Constable Grant Diver wascritically wounded with a gunshot wound.- Photo courtesy of the Napier Mail.June 2009113

PoliceNewsThe Voice of Policein 1996. Mr McKibbin died in the ambulanceon his way to hospital.In life, Len Snee touched many lives, quietlyand confidently. He made a difference inso many, leading by example. In death, hetouched a nation. On a newspaper blogafter his death one correspondent wrote: “Inever knew you but I am sure that I wouldhave loved and admired you like all yourfamily, friends and work mates. Rest inpeace and thank you for helping to make ourcountry safer. You, like all police officers andemergency services that assist in keepingthe average Kiwi safe, are true heroes and Iknow you made a difference. I send my hugsand prayers to those that knew you well andknow they are truly blessed to have an angellike you watching over them. Rest in Peaceand again Thank You.”- By Steve Plowman.• From left to right: Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Police Judith Collins, Commissionerof Police Howard Broad and Inspector Kevin Kelff, the Area Controller for Napier after LenSnee’s funeral.- Photos courtesy of the Dominion Post/Andrew Gorrie.Solomons police remember colleaguesSlain police officer Len Snee was remembered at an early morningmemorial service by New Zealand Police colleagues serving in theSolomon Islands last month.The small outdoor chapel at GBR was overflowing as over 150 RegionalAssistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) police, soldiers fromthe Combined Task Forces (CTF), and others joined the NZ PoliceGalaxy 22 and 23 members at the service.NZ Defence Force Padre John Neal led prayers of support for Len’sfamily, his colleagues Bruce Miller and Grant Diver, and their workcolleagues.As part of the short service, NZ and Pacific Island ContingentCommander John Kelly read words from Psalm 25, and PPF AdvisorDave Garnett, from Napier, shared sentiments written about Len byfamily and friends.• Members of the NZ contingent remember their Napiercolleagues.• Participating Police Force and Combined Task Force memberspay their respects to the late Len Snee at the service.• The New Zealand flag flies at half-mast in remembrance of LenSnee, who was fatally shot in the Napier siege last month, asSolomon Island colleagues gather to remember him and offerprayers for the recovery of wounded officers Grant Diver andBruce Miller.114June 2009

New Zealand Police Association• A police guard of honour, including 25 police dogs, stretched down the street for 200 metres.• The people of Napier turned out in their thousands to join Len Snee’s Police colleagues, the Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Police JudithCollins, Police Commissioner Howard Broad and other dignitaries in honouring their local police officer.- Photos courtesy of the Dominion Post/Andrew Gorrie.June 2009115

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceLen Snee – the nemesis of cannabis growersBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsLen Snee wasn’t only a champion blokeand a champion rugby player – he was achampion at catching cannabis growers too.A nemesis to every ‘dack’ grower whothought he had a hidden plot out in the bushback blocks that would never be discovered.Often Lenny would catch them singlehandedlyand he was so unassuming thathis colleagues would be unaware of hismany busts to this day.RecordHis record was 28 cannabis-growingoperations in one year. He was proud ofthat and always trying to beat it. That’s thesort of bloke he was – he gave 100% toeverything he took on.Len would spend many days includingweekends wandering around the bush withclose friend and former officer, Craig Skeet,looking for cannabis plantations. They weregood at finding them too.Once they had come across a plot theywould observe the plantations until thegrowers turned up to check their plants andthen facilitate arrests.PlantationCraig recalled recently that on one occasionthey had been watching a plot of around100 plants for some weeks and were dueto go back on a weekend to see if anyonecame to tend them. Craig was away out ofthe district that weekend, however, and theCIB were too busy to assist. So Lenny wentalone for a ‘recky’.As luck would have it, Lenny caught agrower in the plot harvesting the plants.Using his unassuming manner Len got thegrower to pull all the plants from the plotand made him carry the entire load out tothe road.As they were wandering out they came uponanother plot that had not been previouslyidentified and Lenny arrested two moregrowers in the process of tending theirpatch. It wasn’t their morning but it wasLenny’s.Not a bad haul, three growers for amorning’s work.Bonus arrestsThings didn’t end there. Len Snee was aman of ingenuity. As he was going backdown to the road with his arrestees in towhe spotted a vehicle pulling up with colleaguesof the other growers – coming to lend a handwith the plot.He instructed one of the growers to stand onthe ridgeline above the road and wave to hismates. The grower complied with Lenny’sinstructions and by the end of the day Lennyhad arrested nine cannabis growers! Onreturning home from the weekend away Craigrang Len to see how he got on. Len said: “Yeahhad a good weekend I got nine lock ups.” Thisdidn’t surprise Craig as Len was better than anydrug dog that Craig had worked with in his 20years of police work. Craig said to Len he wouldbe in his office the next morning to give him ahand with the files but as usual Len said: “Don’tworry they’re all done.”He went the extra mile in his job and even inhis downtime he was still working out ways tocatch crooks.Few people knew of these victories. Len wentabout his business quietly and confidently andwithout fanfare.That was the nature of the man – a trueprofessional in every sense.All who had the good fortune to cross his pathwill sorely miss him.Police Association welcomes new ‘gang patch’ BillThe NZ Police Association has welcomedthe passing of the Wanganui DistrictCouncil (Prohibition of Gang Insignia)Bill last month.Police Association President GregO’Connor said that while the legislationis “no silver bullet”, it would at leastbegin to attach consequences to adecision to join a gang.The Bill, which passed its third readingin Parliament last month to becomean Act, allows the Wanganui DistrictCouncil to ban gang insignia, such aspatches, from designated public places.“For too long, gang members have beenable to strut and intimidate without anyfear of consequence,” Mr O’Connor said.Intimidation“The intimidation is deliberate, anddirectly connected to the gang’s poweras a criminal organisation. Sadly, the fearand power gang members command inmany communities also makes themrole models for young people andperpetuates the attraction of a criminalgang lifestyle.“This new law won’t drive gangs fromour midst, but it will begin to curtail thestrutting and intimidation. Importantly,for the first time, it will also begin toattach some negative consequences tothe decision to join a gang. It will makegang membership less comfortable andless attractive.”The new legislation only applies inWanganui at the present time.“Proving ground”“Nationwide action is always preferable,but this should at least provide a provingground. Hopefully, these measureswill in time be adopted into a morecomprehensive, nationally co-ordinatedanti-gang strategy,” Mr O’Connor said.The local bill, sponsored on behalf ofthe Wanganui District Council by localMP Chester Borrows, a former policeofficer, was passed just after the secondanniversary of the death of Jhia Te Tua,who was shot dead when a bullet firedduring a gang hit on her parents' housepassed through the living room walland killed her while she lay sleeping ona couch.Three men were found guilty of Jhia’smurder and sentenced in February tolife imprisonment. Two others pleadedguilty to manslaughter.Her father, Josh Te Tua, was a BlackPower member and the shooting followedconfrontations between the Mongrel Moband Black Power gangs on May 5, 2007.Mayor delightedWanganui Mayor Michael Laws said hewould ask the council to enact bylawsbringing the ban into effect as soon aspossible. He expected the provisionwould be rolled out to other councils asmany mayors had told him they wantedsimilar powers."It's a triumph for decency anddemocracy. This has huge implicationsfor New Zealand. I can't tell you howabsolutely thrilled I am,” Mr Laws said.116June 2009

New Zealand Police AssociationOrganised crime “biggest threat tolaw and order in New Zealand”Police officers have sent a chillingmessage to the nation’s leaders:organised crime now presents the singlebiggest threat to law and order in NewZealand.The Police Association Members’ Survey,conducted by Nielsen and completedby more than 5,500 serving Policeemployees, asked members: “Whatdo you believe is the most significantthreat to law and order emerging in NewZealand?”A massive forty-one percent (41%)identified gangs, organised crime, and/orthe gang-controlled methamphetamineand drugs trade as the most significantthreat. Concern amongst CIB staff waseven higher (50%).The huge concern about the emergingthreat of gangs and organised crime faroutstripped the next biggest concernsfor frontline police, which were aboutthe effectiveness of the courts and justicesystem (12%), and the threats posed byincreasing violence (6%).Warning cannot be ignoredPolice Association Greg O’Connor saidthe survey results are a warning thatNew Zealand cannot afford to ignore.“Police are on the frontline dealing withcrime, so we always see the emergingissues long before they explode intopublic and political consciousness.“Frontline police, through theAssociation, warned about theemergence of P more than 12 years ago.Unfortunately, it was literally yearsbefore Police at national headquarterslevel, and their political masters, tookthe threat seriously. By that time, as weall now know, the horse had bolted,”Mr O’Connor said.“The fact police are so much moreconcerned about organised crime thanviolence, even though the increasein threats, assaults, and – tragically –deaths of police officers is undeniable,just goes to show how serious this issuehas become.”The serious threat now posed bycomplex and entrenched organisedcrime is largely a consequence of afailure to attack the methamphetaminetrade early, according to Mr O’Connor.“The amount of money derived fromdealing P means the gangs have gotricher, smarter, and better organised.They are now firmly focussed ondiversifying their business, andbroadening their sphere of influenceinto the nice end of town, where theopportunities to keep growing theircriminal wealth are that much greater,”he said.Legislation tackling“yesterday’s issues”Last month, Parliament passed theWanganui District Council (Prohibitionon Gang Insignia) Bill, which will allowthe District Council to ban gang regaliafrom designated areas in Wanganui (seeseparate story on page 116).Also in May, the Police Associationmade submissions to Parliament’s Lawand Order Select Committee, which isconsidering the Government’s Gangsand Organised Crime Bill. This Billmakes minor changes to provisionsaround section 98A of the CrimesAct (the offence of ‘participation inan organised criminal group’), use ofelectronic interceptions in investigatingthe offence, and provisions allowinglocal councils to tear down ‘intimidating’structures such as gang fortifications.Mr O’Connor said these measures, while“nice to have”, will make little differenceto gangs and organised crime.“None of these measures will haveorganised criminals shaking in theirboots. The reality is, gang patches andfortified pads are largely yesterday’sissues. While there are still somechapters who are a bit slow to workit out, particularly in provincial NewZealand, most gangs have realised thatpublic and police attention is simplybad for business. The smart criminalshave already taken off their patches.They have already moved their majoroperations into the ‘leafy suburbs’, andit will take more than tinkering withanti-gang legislation to root them out,”Mr O’Connor warned.‘Home bake’ heroin comebackOne side effect of organised crime’sgrip on the drugs trade appears tobe the re-emergence of ‘home bake’heroin.Since its peaks in the 1970s and 80s,heroin has been a relatively minorproblem in New Zealand. Sourceshave told Police News that some drugusers, anxious to escape the threats,debts and violence associated withorganised crime’s ruthless grip onthe supply of methamphetamineand other drugs, are now turningback to home bake.Some pharmacists spoken to byPolice News confirmed there has been asharp increase recently in the number ofapparent pill shoppers trying to obtaincodeine-based products, which can be‘baked’ into a form of morphine andthen converted into heroin.Home bake was last a major featureof the New Zealand drug scene in the1980s; after the dismantling of the ‘MrAsia’ syndicate saw imported heroinsupplies dry up.According to a paper by K.R Bedfordand others, published in ForensicScience International magazine in1987, “The first laboratory using theprocess was seized in Auckland inJanuary 1983. In the three yearswhich followed to January 1986,Auckland police alone seized over50 such laboratories…and over90 were seized in NZ as a whole.Laboratories have been encounteredin kitchens and bathrooms in mostparts of the country.”In the 1987 paper on the topic,Bedford described the process asa “simple recipe-like procedure”where heroin is “normally made insmall batches for the addict's ownuse”.June 2009117

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceSouth Australian motorcycle gangsmake the move into politicsBy Deb Stringer, Communications AssistantSouth Australia’s outlaw motorcyclegangs have made the move into politicsin an attempt to fight tough new ganglegislation implemented by the SouthAustralian Government.The Serious and Organised Crime(Control) Act was introduced lastyear with its main aim being to disruptand restrict the activities of criminalorganisations, their members and theirassociates.South Australian bikie gangs arenaturally opposed to the Act and theyhave banded together to form theFreedom Rights Environment Educate(FREE) Australia Party.The fledgling political party has beenseeking the services of high-poweredlawyers to challenge the Governmentin courts and to push public relationscampaigns aimed to ignite the sympathiesof civil libertarians and others concernedat the erosion of personal freedoms,according to a report from The NewZealand Herald.Hints to go nationwideThe party has also hinted it may gonationwide if similar laws are introducedin New South Wales, Queensland,the Northern Territory and WesternAustralia.Under the South Australian legislation:• The Attorney-General has the power todeclare a gang a criminal organisation;• Police can then apply to the courtsfor a “control order” on identifiedmembers;• A control order bans those membersfrom associating with specific people,being in certain places and possessingparticular items;• Police can also issue “public safetyorders” restricting gang members fromentering certain places or events;• People are banned from associatingwith someone subject to a controlorder more than six times a year, witha potential five-year prison penalty onconviction; and• It is an offence for people with specifiedcriminal convictions to associate withother people with similar convictionsmore than six times a year.The South Australian Government isconsidering using the new legislationto declare the Finks motorcycle ganga criminal organisation under thenew legislation. By being “declared”in Parliament, under the Serious andOrganised Crime (Control) Act, some42 members of the gang would then besubject to control orders.Premier Mike Rann confirmed last monththat Attorney-General Michael Atkinsonwas considering an application from theSouth Australian Police in a watershedtest of the legislation. If successful, gangmembers could be arrested for associatingwith each other.Addressing organised crime in NZThe New Zealand gang environment hasevolved into a much more complex andsophisticated operation in recent yearsand Police figures show that 75% ofthose caught trafficking in drugs are gangmembers and associates.It is estimated that there are in excess of3,000 patched or full members and asmany as 11,000 associates of traditionalgangs in New Zealand.Many of the older style gangs are nowfully immersed in organised crime andare dealing higher value drugs such asmethamphetamine.Police report that the methods formaking and distributing these types ofdrugs have become more sophisticatedas manufacturers vie for a piece of thelucrative billion-dollar-plus industry.Implementing legislation in NZThe Government has indicated it isinterested in monitoring the effects of theSouth Australian legislation.The Police Association believes that ifsimilar measures were introduced here,it would arm Police with powerful toolsto dismantle gangs as well as providedisincentives against gang membership.Former police detective and CanterburyUniversity academic, Dave Haslett,who is studying towards a PhD onNew Zealand outlaw motorcycle gangs,believes if similar laws were implementedhere, motorcycle gangs would no doubtfollow in the footsteps of their Australiancounterparts and become politicised.“There is a high chance that it couldbecome highly politicised, so I wouldnot be surprised if they [bikie gangs]all banded together to form some kindof political outlet if such laws wereintroduced,” he said.118June 2009

New Zealand Police AssociationAGMs provide your chance to make a differenceBy Chris Pentecost, Police AssociationChief Executive OfficerThe NZ Police Association holds anAnnual General Meeting in each Districtor Area where we have an AssociationCommittee.A schedule of the AGMs planned for thisyear appeals below. All members are urgedto attend their local meeting. On mostoccasions, a representative from NationalOffice, normally the President, NationalSecretary or Association Advocate, willattend each AGM and summarise topicalissues for those attending.We encourage members to look atbecoming involved in their localcommittee. It provides members with awider appreciation of the activities of thePolice Association, and can often givemembers a broader perspective of what ishappening in Police in their own Area orDistrict.Training initiativesWe are also working on new training forour key activists, such as on the Codeof Conduct, to ensure they are wellequipped to assist fellow members shouldthe need arise. Such training is oftencomplementary with a member’s careeraspirations, and can assist when seekingpromotion. As well, membership onthe local committee can see individualsadvance within the Association.The President, two Vice-Presidents and allthe Association Directors have acquiredtheir roles within the organisation byinitially progressing from being on theirlocal committee through to taking on aposition of responsibility such as secretary,chairperson, and/or conference delegate -before being elected to higher office.The Association Rules outline thegovernance for the organisation from thelocal committee structure, through toAnnual Conference and membership ofthe Board of Directors.Election of officersAny member can be elected to their localcommittee, generally at their AGM. TheAGM also elects the conference delegate,a member representative who attendsthe Association Annual Conference, theultimate policy and decision-makingbody of the Association. The committeechairperson and secretary are usuallyelected by the committee members at theirfirst meeting and receive free membershipof the Association as recognition of theircontribution.The Association has seven RegionDirectors who are elected to representmembers on a geographical basis andregardless of Police structures andreporting lines.• Region One comprises Northland andWaitemata Districts;• Region Two comprises Auckland Cityand Counties-Manukau Districts;• Region Three comprises Waikato andBay of Plenty Districts;• Region Four comprises Eastern andCentral Districts;• Region Five comprises WellingtonDistrict, plus Police NationalHeadquarters (PNHQ) and the RoyalNew Zealand Police College (RNZPC);• Region Six comprises Tasman andCanterbury Districts; and• Region Seven comprises the SouthernDistrict.Region DirectorsTo stand for the position of RegionDirector, a member must have been anoffice holder (chairperson, secretary ordelegate) for at least one full year or acommittee member for at least three years.A Region Director is elected for a twoyear term by representatives from eachDistrict, and once elected becomes a Boardmember of both the Association and theWelfare Fund with ultimate responsibilityfor the day-to-day governance of bothorganisations.The President and two Vice-Presidentsare elected for a three-year term by thedelegates at the Annual Conference, withone election held each year with the aim ofensuring stability within the organisation.Any member, nominated and secondedby two other members, can stand for anyof these three positions as they arise.This year, for instance, a Vice-Presidentposition is up for election. Nominationswill close in mid-September, and theAugust and September issues of PoliceNews will contain more specific details foranybody wishing to stand.DATE AREA DISTRICT TIME VENUE28 July 2 Counties Manukau District (CMD) 10 am Papakura Police Bar28 July 2 Auckland Central District (ACD) 2 pm Auckland Central Bar29 July 1 Whangarei/Northland 1 pm Whangarei Police Station30 July 1 North Shore/Albany 9.30 am NSPC30 July 1 Henderson 2 pm Henderson Police Station17 June 3 Waikato/Hamilton 2 pm Hamilton Station18 June 3 Taupo/Tokoroa 10 am Tokoroa Station18 June 3 Tauranga 3 pm Tauranga Station19 June 3 Whakatane 10 am Whakatane Station19 June 3 Rotorua 2.30 pm RSA (next door pol. station)11 June 4 Napier 10.30 am Napier Station11 June 4 Hastings 3 pm Hastings Station12 June 4 Wairoa 10 am (no mtg just meet staff)12 June 4 Gisborne 1 pm Gisborne Station25 June 4 Taumaraunui/Rapehu 11 am Taumaranui Station25 June 4 Wanganui 3 pm Wanganui Station26 June 4 Hawera/Sth Tarankai 11 am Hawera Station26 June 4 New Plymouth 2.30 pm New Plymouth Station23 July 4 Horowhenua/Levin 10.30 am Levin Station23 July 4 Palmerston North 2 pm Palmerston Nth Main Station1 July TBC 5 Masterton 3 pm TBC Café Mtg Room Mstn Station7 July 5 Kapiti / Mana 10 am Bar Porirua Station7 July 5 NZ Police College 1 pm Nikau Room, RNZPC8 July 5 PNHQ 10 am Level 15 PNHQ8 July 5 Wellington 3 pm Level 4 Wellington Central28 July 5 Lower Hutt 1 pm Bar Lower Hutt Station30 June 6 Blenheim 9am Blenheim Station30 June 6 Nelson 2pm Nelson Station1 July 6 Greymouth/West Coast 1pm Greymouth Station2 July 6 Timaru/Sth Canterbury 2pm3 July 6 Canterbury Rural 10am Rangiora Station3 July 6 Christchurch 3pm CHCH Central8 June 7 Southland/Invercargill 1pm Invercargill Station9 June 7 Queenstown 1pm Queenstown Station10 June 7 Dunedin 1pm Dunedin Central StationJune 2009119

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceObituary:Jacob Schriek – a man who lived life to the full"Jacob here, Riversdale Police"."Why have you got your phone transferred to your cell phonewhen you are relieving on Stewart Island?""Oh gidday boss, you know I like to keep in touch with mylocals, and if I answer the phone they don't know where I am,and also I can deal with a lot of stuff that saves the Gore guysfrom having to attend."This summed up Jacob Schriek to a tee. He was always there,even when he wasn't. This same conversation could be hadwhether he was relieving or on leave in Christchurch. He hadan unrelenting commitment to policing and took pride in theknowledge that he did his best and refused to let go of anyinvestigation until he had exhausted every avenue.CompassionHis compassion for his fellow man was unlimited, no matterwhat their background. He showed strong leadership andoften passed on his wisdom to others. He had a sense ofhumour that shone through in dark and difficult times andhe always enjoyed a good joke, although sometimes it took awhile to get to the punch line.Jacob joined the Police in 1973 and was posted to Wellington,before transferring to Christchurch. He resigned to enablehim and his wife Debbie to do the big OE, returning to NewZealand in 1978 and working as a real estate agent.In 1981, he rejoined the Police and was stationed in Gore,working on section until he took on the role of Youth AidOfficer, until 1993 when he moved to Riversdale to the solecharge position there.Consummate rural policemanHe was the consummate rural policeman, whose communitycame first. He was away to golf one Saturday and was met atthe door by a local whose car had been unlawfully taken overnight. In true Jacob style, golf was put off while he investigatedthe complaint and arrested the offender. This story and theone related at his funeral of how he assisted with milking on afarm after he had arrested the milker, are just two of the manystories of his dedication to his community.Jacob was also passionate about saving lives on the road andmade no excuses for his consistent approach to policingtraffic laws, whether on or off duty. He was invariably latefor training, as he just couldn't turn off the speed detectionequipment in the car. Letting a speeding motorist pass amarked police patrol car was just not his style, a trait thatwon him praise from those in charge of road policing in theSouthern District.School visitsJacob enjoyed visiting the local schools, and even though hischildren had long left school he still went to Deep Cove with thepupils from Riversdale Primary, taking his yacht and teachingthem to sail and fish. He impressed upon the children thatthey lived in a safe place and that the local policeman couldbe trusted but took no nonsense. He told them if they usedtheir mouths half as much as their ears, they would overcomemost things.• Jacob Schriek, a former Police Sportsperson of the Year, and a verypopular figure in his patch as the sole charge officer at Riversdale.His dedication to policing was matched by his dedication forcycling. There were no half measures. Track cycling was hispassion and when he finished a race he had invariably givenhis all, so much so that members of his team had to runalongside him and catch him to prevent him from falling tothe ground.Commonwealth Games repHe represented New Zealand at the 1974 CommonwealthGames. He was considered the best in the Commonwealth atthe time in his chosen distance but due to events that unfoldedout of his hands on the day, he finished out of the medals.In 1974, Jacob was named New Zealand Police Sportspersonof the Year, and continued competitive cycling into the 80s,setting an allcomers’ record in a sprint at the EmergencyServices Games in Australia in 1988.In later years, while not competing at the same level, Jacob stillenjoyed cycling and played a major role as a team leader forprovincial and national cycling teams, managing the NationalYouth Team to Sydney in 2003.Golfing interestGolf was another big part of his life, and like policing andcycling it was a serious business. He played whenever he couldget the time and recently had taken on the role of treasurer atthe Riversdale Golf Club. This was not new to him, havingpreviously been treasurer at Gore. It was no surprise whenhe announced, just after New Year, that he and Debbie hadmanaged to purchase a house bordering the ninth fairway atthe local golf club.Behind every good man they say there is a good woman andin Jacob’s case this was so true, Debbie was his soulmate andstrength. Their joint support and pride in their communitywas evident and everyone was welcome into their homewithout fuss, including tourists, the homeless and DeputyCommissioners.– By Steve Gregory.120June 2009

New Zealand Police AssociationObituary:Victor James Monteith WhymanThe Auckland Police Pipe Band and thepipe band movement in New Zealand losta versatile and multi-talented member,with the recent death of Vic Whyman.Vic had been a playing member of theAuckland Police Pipe Band since themid-1980s and was the President of theband for the last few years.Vic joined the NZ Army as a RegularForce Cadet in 1950 and graduatedinto the Royal Electrical and MechanicalEngineers as an instrument technician,which meant that he was qualified asboth a watchmaker and as a fitter andturner; the latter skill of great benefit inlater years when he turned his hand tomaking parlour pipes, bag pipe chantersand drone reeds.Whilst a Regular Force Cadet andon joining the Army workshops atTrentham, Vic played for a pipe band inthe Hutt Valley. His Army career lasted30 years and he steadily rose in rankthroughout that period, including beingcommissioned and retiring from theArmy as a Major. His service postingsincluded Trentham, Burnham, Waiouru,Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong andthe USA. It was after retiring from theArmy that Vic joined the AucklandPolice Pipe Band where he continuedto play an active part until late last yearwhen illness intervened.Member for over 20 yearsAs an active member of the AucklandPolice Pipe Band for over 20 years, Vicwas with it as it rose in stature in the NZPipe Band movement and participatedin a number of overseas trips includingHawaii, Alaska, Canada, the USA,Japan, China, Australia (twice) and theEdinburgh Tattoo in Scotland. The bandwill miss himgreatly. He wasa familiar faceto a number ofAuckland staff,having played at anumber of Police functions throughoutthe region.As a moving tribute to Vic, the AucklandPolice Pipe Band visited him at the NorthShore Hospice just prior to his death. Heindicated to his immediate family, whowere there, how much he had enjoyedhearing the band play for him. He died acouple of hours later presumably with thesound of his much beloved and favouriteinstrument still ringing in his ears.His funeral was held on the 24th ofApril, attended by family, friends,Auckland Police Pipe Band membersand Waitemata Police management.“I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for itsown sake. Life is no candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch, which I have got hold of for the moment,and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it to future generations.”- George Bernard Shaw.Police Health Plan stalwart Sue Pearce retiresBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsLast month, a large gathering of Police Association staff, somePolice staff and former workmates of Sue Pearce gathered atthe National Office to mark her retirement after 22 years ofservice to the Association and its membership.Sue was supervisor of the Police Health Plan.Sue originally came to the Association at the behest of hersister Tania Winkels (then an Association Industrial Officer)to “fill in part-time for two weeks in the Police Health Plan”.Those two weeks turned in to 22 years.The Police Health Plan was in its infancy in October 1987 andSue has been instrumental, along with the support of somegreat staff, in ensuring it has become a leader in the field ofhealth insurance in the interim.MembershipAt that time, Sue was at varsity doing a BA in Social Policy. Therewere 8,000 PHP members. Nowadays there are four times asmany. Membership now increases by around 1,000 a year.The major change during those 22 years has beencomputerisation.Claims were all done manually in 1987. It was a very timeconsuming exercise. “There was no way to check whethermembers were in default or even, in fact, whether they werepaying their subs. All you had was a membership databaseand everything else was paper-based.” All the cheques forclaim payments were also done by hand.While computers changed all that and probably saved halfan Amazon rainforest to boot, the workload hasn’t stoppedgrowing. “I think in some instances the claims take longertoday, not only because we are dealing with more peoplebut because of the complexity of the claims. We now handlecomplex medical procedures and treatment from providerswe would not have covered previously,” she told Police News.ClaimsPolice Health Plan now accepts claims for treatment byregistered osteopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists anddentists. Staff have to check professionals’ accreditation,which adds another dimension to the modern workload andthere are always determinations to be made around elective ornon-elective operations too.After leaving school, Sue made use of her love of maths byworking in the Government Actuary’s Office before working atWellington Hospital for a couple of years, during which timeshe worked as part of the cardiology team. She then moved onto Wairau Hospital in Blenheim and became a theatre assistantat Lister Hospital.June 2009121

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceWork with blindOn her return to Wellington, Sue worked at Longview GeriatricHospital at Tawa, which catered specifically to the blind.Her love of maths could easily have taken her towards becomingan actuary but she admits that, on reflection, she was “too youngat the time to really appreciate it.”The other big change Sue has noticed, during those couple ofdecades in health, has been the pull back from the public healthsystem and the move towards greater privatisation. “We used todo only two or three surgical procedures a week and now weare approving between 14 and 20 a day,” Sue said.The cheque run for surgical and medical claims was around$30,000 a week when Sue started work for the PHP and nowit comes it at $400,000 a week. Times have changed all right –and got a whole lot more expensive as the Police Health Plan‘infant’ of the late 80s has grown up.Life-threatening illnessesIn amongst all that, Sue and her staff have had to deal withmembers who are themselves or have family members facinglife-threatening procedures and are understandably verystressed. Asked to reflect on that aspect of her work, Sue saidthe members have been “fantastic”.“I think a lot of people don’t realise, until they are in thoseterrible situations, what a great support the Police Health Planis and they are most grateful for that,” she said.“This is not just about insurance, it’s about people. We aredealing with Police staff and they are in the public eye and thatreally comes home to you when you have been dealing withsomeone during the day and discussing really serious healthissues that may be affecting them or a loved one and then youget home and turn on the TV and there they are speaking calmlyabout some murder inquiry they are heading. That really bringsit home to you about their professionalism and you have a greatsense of admiration for that,” Sue told Police News.ReflectionSue said that experiences like that have taught her not to takeanything at face value. “You just don’t know what is going on inpeople’s lives and so sometimes when people react in anger weneed to take things like that into account,” she added.That’s because Sue Pearce knows about the vagaries of life. Asa young married woman she faced the tragic loss of her firsthusband in a drowning accident. She knows what it feels like tohave a baby die and she was very lucky to survive a very seriousroad crash in June 2007 after being T-boned by a recidivistdrunk driver. That accident left her with several broken ribsand a badly shattered leg. It is now held together permanentlyby screws. Yes, Sue Pearce has seen the coalface of tragedy andit has given her insights in dealing with the griefs of membersthat only experience can teach.ColleaguesAlong the way she has seen young Association workmates likeJanet Quinney (killed in a car accident) and Valerie Baxendale(cancer) claimed way before their time and she reflects: “Life istoo short not to enjoy every day.”Sue Pearce has brought a rare compassion to her job and manymembers have written to the Association over the years toexpress their gratitude to her and her team for their care.Calm in a stormWhen you are dealing with people who are suffering from lifethreatening illnesses and who have to undergo the stress of• Sue Pearce shows her delight at receiving a lovely charm braceletas a retirement gift.chemotherapy, and other invasive treatments, a calm, friendlyvoice can make a huge difference. Sue Pearce has often been thatvoice – the calm amidst the storms of life for many members.Sue and her long-time partner Hugh married in 2007. Hugh, ascientist, retired last September but Sue admits that it is a sortof semi-retirement. “He still goes into the office.”Sue is very much looking forward to spending more time withher family in her retirement. “I will probably do some of thethings I love like sewing, quilt making, reading and we hope tomake use of some of those Association holiday homes too now,”she says with a grin.At the box at the top of this article is a quote by George BernardShaw. It is Sue Pearce’s favourite. It also gives a clue as to herthoughts on her long career with the Police Association and hermove into retirement.The Association wishes her well in her retirement. May she, asShaw so aptly put it: “Rejoice in life for it’s own sake.”She certainly deserves to.$40 million shortfallhurts road policingChief Constable Barbara Wilding of the South Wales Police Forcehas warned that police officers will stop responding to accidentson Welsh stretches of the M4 motorway unless dedicated trafficofficers are introduced.The warning comes in the face of a proposed $40 million fundingshortfall, which has meant that South Wales Police can no longerafford to have routine traffic (road policing) patrols on top of normalpolicing requirements.122June 2009

New Zealand Police AssociationAssociation welcomes proposedlegislation for young offendersBy Deb Stringer, Communications AssistantThe Police Association has welcomedthe introduction of the Children,Young Persons, and Their Families(Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Order)Amendment Bill.The Association is pleased to see thatmajor issues of concern, which werenot encompassed in the previous Act,have been addressed in the proposedchanges.The decision to abandon the ideaof shifting 17-year-olds from theDistrict Court to the Youth Court ismost welcome, according to PoliceAssociation President Greg O’Connor.Effectiveness queriedThe Association believes it would havedone “absolutely nothing” to improvethe “effectiveness or credibility” of thejustice system in its dealing with thisgroup.Another change welcomed by theAssociation is allowing Police theoption of bringing 12 and 13-yearoldserious offenders before the YouthCourt. Under current legislation theseoffenders are dealt with through a ‘careand protection’ order in the FamilyCourt.Police officers who work in this field saythat dealing with such young offendersunder current law is often timeconsuming,difficult and ineffective.The Association believes the YouthCourt is better equipped to deal withthese kinds of offenders, as it holdsspecialist jurisdiction and the expertiseto deal both with the causes of youthoffending and the power to holdoffenders accountable for their actions.A need for further changeAlthough the Association is pleasedwith the move, it feels the thresholdunder the new Bill is too high for it to beeffectively exercised, as only offenderswho have committed extremely seriousoffences (offences punishable by 14years or more imprisonment); or veryserious repeat offenders (a second veryserious offence punishable by 10 yearsor more imprisonment) can be dealtwith by the Youth Court.The Association believes expertpractitioners should be empowered totackle these types of offences on thefirst occasion, under the auspices of theYouth Court.Fair callHowever, one issue the new Bill failsto address is the use of imprisonmentas an option for offenders under theage of 17, who are not charged withpurely indictable offences. Whilethe Association stressed that it is notadvocating for a system, which wouldsend young offenders to prison bydefault, it believes there should be theflexibility for judges to utilise this optionwith some recidivist youth offenders,if their offending is serious enough towarrant it. Other moves welcomedOther proposed changes welcomed bythe Association are:• Changes toYouth Court supervision orders;• Doubling the maximum length of themost restrictive sentences;• The power to transfer 14-year-oldswho have committed very seriousoffences to the District Court; and• The correction of premature expiryof Youth Court orders for offenderswho have turned 17.Try our brain teaser quizOkay, morning or afternoon tea break hasarrived. You have your cuppa in hand and youand your colleagues could do with a quickbrain workout. So appoint your quizmaster andhave a go at these questions. The answers areunder the quiz (upside down, no peeking!).1. With what metal would associate theword aurum?2. New Zealand’s largest lake is 606kilometres square. What is its name?(a) Lake Tekapo (b) Lake Taupo (c)Lake Rotorua (d) Lake Manapouri.3. What cocktail is made from vodka,Galliano and orange juice?4. Which lake is England’s largest?5. In which country was the famed“Rumble in the Jungle” worldheavyweight boxing title fight betweenMuhammad Ali and George Foreman?6. On which sea is the Gaza Strip?7. What was the artist Picasso’s firstname?8. Who wrote the poem “If”?9. In policing what do the letters CVIUstand for?10. What is the capital of Cameroon?Scoring: 0-2 – Hmmn, room for significantimprovement (perhaps next month). 3-5 Notbad, better luck next time. 6-7 – Good effort.8 – Very good. 9 – Excellent. 10 – Wipe yournose, take a bow and go to the top of the classEinstein.Answers: Gold, Lake Taupo, HarveyWallbanger, Lake Windermere, Zaire,Mediterranean, Pablo, Rudyard Kipling,Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit,Yaounde.Detective school just keeps getting betterA Hamilton member recently recounted this story to PoliceNews and we thought readers might find it of interest. In herown words…We are expecting our fourth child soon, and our other childrenare very excited and share the news with anyone who willlisten.Our seven-year-old was staying at her friend’s house notlong ago, when her friend’s grandfather arrived. Our daughtereagerly told him: “My mum is having another baby.” “That’sgreat” came the reply.“Yes and it’s a boy”, my daughter retorted. “How do you knowthat it’s a boy?” asked the granddad.“Oh my dad’s a detective and he told me”…“Well, he must be a very good detective,” said the granddad.The member told Police News: “Now, I’m sure my husband’sgood at his job, but I don’t think he’s that good. What are theyteaching down in Wellington these days!”.June 2009123

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceAn 18-year-old autistic woman with a mental age of an 11-year-old was recently held in the Nelson Policecells for three days, eventually being sent to Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch for specialist care. She faceda number of charges in the Nelson District Court relating to alleged assault and using threatening behaviouras well as wilful damage. Her detention in police cells sparked a good deal of controversy. There is a lot ofmisinformation and misunderstanding about autism. In the article below, Constable Todd Martin sheds somelight on the condition for the benefit of members who, in the course of their everyday duties, may come intocontact with someone with autism.Autism and usWe hear the term autism bandied about a lotthese days but ask anyone what it is andyou’d be hard pressed to get an answerthat makes any sense.Like most Kiwis, I’d hardly ever heard of the condition, until myson was diagnosed with autism many years ago.How is autism relevant to policing? Well, if you consider overseasstatistics, that 1 in 150 New Zealanders have some form of thedisorder, you start to get an idea.Knowledge is everything in this job. We typically do the jobwith one hand tied behind our back. Any assistance andinsight (however small) can help immensely. It’s onthat basis I’d like to share with you some insight intothe condition and how to recognise it.TragediesWhy? Because the Internet is littered withexamples of overseas police officers gettingit completely wrong when encountering aperson with autism, sometimes with tragicconsequences.We’ve been incredibly fortunate in New Zealand that we haven’t addedto that growing list of tragedies. Although the recent incident in Nelsonended well, it highlighted the need for greater staff awareness of autism.To be able to recognise someone with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (or ASDfor short) you need to have some idea of how it affects people.Part of the problem here is that to the untrained eye, persons with ASDdisplay few if any visible signs they have the condition. They “look”like everyone else. To complicate things further, many also have otherdevelopmental/intellectual disabilities and/or other health problems, suchas Down syndrome and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).Autism covers a very wide “spectrum”.ScaleThis spectrum or scale starts with what’s called “low functioning” autism(which my severely autistic son has. He needs constant supervision)through to “high ioning” autism or Asperger syndrome. At the very top ofthe spectrum you’ll find a very small bunch of ASD persons (sometimescalled Autistic Savants) who have exceptional skills in one particularsubject such as music, memory and maths.In short, people with ASD are as different from each other as you andI. Each person will have varying degrees of independence; some mayhave a caregiver with them all the time, while others will live semi or fullyindependent lives.• The autism awareness ribbon, which is featured aspart of autism awareness month in April each year.- Photo courtesy of Istock.com/Valerie Louseleux.Communication difficultiesMost people with ASD have difficulty communicating and relatingto the people around them – this is fundamental to this disorder– autism is characterised as a “communication” disorder.To varying degrees, most have difficulty understanding andprocessing information. This affects their learning, their use oflanguage and their ability to interact and socialize with others.Many also have sensory problems processing sights, sounds,touch and smells.All this makes persons with ASD vulnerable members of oursociety, particularly if they are “low functioning”.The most likely ways a person with ASD will come topolice attention is if they go missing, if they’re actingstrangely in public, if they become aggressive orviolent or if they’re a victim of a crime or a witnessto one.Things to considerThe following is a list of things to consider ifcoming into contact with a person with ASD.• If possible seek info and assistancefrom a parent or caregiver before attemptingcommunication or de-escalating the person’s behaviour;• If possible turn off your patrol car’s flashing lights and sirens;• Many persons with ASD are sensitive to lights, sounds, touch etc.Sensitivity becomes heightened when the person is stressed. Forexample, just touching the person may cause huge discomfort andpain, noises are amplified, etc;• Talk calmly and softly in direct simple short phrases and avoid slangexpressions;• Avoid asking complicated questions or giving multi-layeredinstructions such as “do this, then this, then this etc”- many personswith ASD, particularly those less able, take longer to processinstructions, so keep it simple;• Don’t interpret the person’s failure to respond to instructions orquestions as a lack of co-operation or a reason to use force;• Allow for delayed responses to your questions and be prepared torepeat or rephrase them. Be patient;• Many people with ASD will avoid direct eye contact;• Try to avoid rapid movement or gestures, such as pointing or waving;• Try to model the behaviour you want the person to display, e.g. if youask them to sit down, consider sitting down yourself to demonstrate;• Keep alert to the possibility of outbursts or impulsive acts, such asfight or flight;124June 2009

New Zealand Police Association• A person with ASD may not react well to changes in routine orthe presence of strangers. This in itself is likely to cause sensoryoverload, confusion and distress. Many don’t understand thesignificance of a Police uniform or what a police officer does;• Try to avoid stopping repetitive behaviour unless there is a risk ofinjury to themselves or others. Many individuals, when stressed, willperform strange acts to calm themselves, such as hand flapping,jumping, fiddling with their hands, repeating the same phrasesover and over again. Stopping it may cause the person to becomeaggressive;• Be aware that up to 40% of persons with ASD are prone to seizuresand many suffer from epilepsy;• It’s estimated that up to 50% are non-verbal and are accustomedto communicating visually, such as using the PECS system (PictureExchange Communication System). If the parent or caregiver ispresent ask them about this. Be prepared to use hand gestures orsign language to communicate if need be;• Aggression is usually a result of the person being highly stressed,often caused by frustration, or fear or change in routine (for autisticpeople aggression is not necessarily caused by anger);• If a person’s behaviour appears to escalate, try and use geographiccontainment, back off and maintain a safe distance until thebehaviour decreases;• Check for injuries, some persons with ASD self-harm when highlyagitated, such as banging their heads against objects and punchingwalls. They often have a high pain threshold and may not ask for helpor display any indication of pain even though they could be injured;• Many have little understanding of cause and effect or the subsequentconsequences;• Care should be taken during the interview process. Ideally, anadvocate or caregiver should accompany the ASD person. Thisis due to the possible propensity for the higher functioning verbalautistic person to sometimes wish to “please” the interviewer withexaggerated or inaccurate information; and• Use your discretion, be patient and try to avoid rushing things.It’s fairly common for persons with ASD to go missing. Now if they arefrom the lower end of the spectrum they’re often expert escape artists or“runners”. Many have no road sense or any concept of danger and maytravel large distances very quickly. Drowning is the leading cause of deathfor those in this group. Many have a fascination with water and will seekit out at every opportunity. So remember to check local pools, ponds,creeks, rivers, lakes etc.Lastly, having a person with ASD in your custody, for whatever reason,can be a stressful experience for both parties. We rely heavily on thesupport of Mental Health to assist us when handling a person witha mental disability, such as ASD. However, as Nelson staff recentlydiscovered this is not always the case.Despite repeated calls from police, a judge and the mother of the autisticteen, a mental health specialist from MHO Nelson/Marlborough, refusedto help, stating Emma’s problem was behavioural, that she didn’t have amental illness and therefore wasn’t covered under the Mental Health Act.Huge ramificationsNow this highly contentious decision has huge ramifications for Policeand unless clarification is forthcoming from the Ministry of Health weagain will find ourselves being used as the “ambulance at the bottom ofthe cliff”.Thankfully, in this instance, a member of the local Autistic Associationworked with staff to care for Emma while she spent several days in policecustody. After a court ruling, she was eventually placed under the MentalHealth Act at “Hillmorton” facility in Christchurch.Mental Health’s failure to assist police officers on this occasion is a realconcern. My advice if you find yourself in this position would be to contactyour local branch of the Autistic Association for help and advice. Althoughnot ideal, at the very least they can advise on how best to handle theperson you have in your custody.Hopefully, this information has given some insight into dealing with thoseon the autistic spectrum. The numbers dictate that sooner or later you arelikely to encounter an individual with autism and this information mightmake that interaction more successful.The contact details for Autism New Zealand Inc are:Website: www.autismnz.org.nz Email: info@autismnz.org.nzFreephone: 0800 288-476Ila shows theboys how it’sdone• Senior Constable Jason Toddand his police dog Ila tookout the National Police DogChampionships recently. Thethree-day competition saw Ilabecome the first bitch ever totake the title. Ila is a specialistArmed Offenders Squad dog andas such had no time to rest on herlaurels, being required for dutiesat the recent Napier shootingsiege. What Ila lacks in size, shecertainly makes up for in quality.Constable Todd described her as“a dog with a lot of heart” andthat was evident for all to see atthe champs.- Photo courtesy of The Dominion Post/Craig Simcox.June 2009125

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PolicePolice drummer excited to be performingat 2009 Edinburgh Military Tattoo festivalBy Deb Stringer, Communications AssistantTimaru constable Ian Ireland will be walking to a different beatwhen he heads to one of the world’s biggest music festivals inAugust.Mr Ireland will be performing at the 2009 Edinburgh MilitaryTattoo after he secured a spot as a drummer in the AucklandPolice Pipe Band.Ireland described the pending trip as a “once in a lifetimeopportunity.”“I’m really excited to be going, as the event is seen as a highlightfor all pipe bands,” he told Police News.He is also looking forward to doing some sightseeing aroundBritain.“I’m especially interested in finding out some of my familyhistory,” he said.Although Mr Ireland lives in the South Island, he had decided tojoin the Auckland-based band after spotting an advertisementin the Police magazine Ten One.“I just thought why not? Since becoming a member, I havedrummed for them at the International Police Tattoo inAdelaide last year, as well as being flag bearer at the nationalcontest, which was held in Christchurch earlier this year,”Ireland said.Preparing for the big eventGoing solo when it came to practicing for upcoming eventswas a natural occurrence for the southerner.“It’s not too bad as they (the band) send all the drum scoresto my computer.“I do plan to fly to Auckland in June though, so I can at leastattend one band practice in person,” he laughed.Mr Ireland said he had always felt drawn to pipe band music,as it was something that ran in his family.• Timaru constable Ian Ireland’s love of pipe band music will see himdrum for the Auckland Police Pipe Band at the famed EdinburghMilitary Tattoo in August.- Photo courtesy of The Timaru Herald/John Bisset.“Both my mother, sister and brother have all been drummersin pipe bands and my Dad is also a piper.”Ireland is also an accomplished pipe player.Ireland said he had been playing in pipe bands since he was11-years-old and was pleased that being a policeman hadgiven him the chance to carry on his love of band music.Recognition of previous service for Long Service LeaveBy Tracy White, Association Industrial OfficerNZ Police have advised that they areabout to begin final testing on theLong Service Leave (LSL) changes andhope to have the leave in PeopleSoft(for employees to access) by earlyJuly.If you have previous Governmentservice, you wish to have recognisedfor leave purposes, you will needto request this using the PreviousGovernment Service Crediting Formfound on the Intranet, under HumanResources.The organisations included forrecognition of previous Governmentservice are found in the CollectiveAgreements, under the Leave sections(section 5 for sworn and section 4 fornon-sworn).TransfersIn some cases, where employees havehad service recognised prior to theimplementation of PeopleSoft, thisservice may not have been transferredacross to your PeopleSoft balances. If youhave previously requested recognitionof previous Government service and arenot sure if it is on your balance yet, thencontact your HR team.Recognition of previous serviceand the subsequent adjusting ofbalances will take place after the LSLimplementation. Employees wishingto use their new LSL entitlementsbefore July will need to contact theirlocal HR team to have this processedmanually. If you do access yournew LSL entitlement in this way,your allocation in July will then bereversed to show the correct balance(deducting what you have used).If you have any questions aroundrecognition of previous service, or thenew Long Service Leave provisionsin general, your HR team should beyour first point of contact.126June 2009

New Zealand Police AssociationStolen car expert says Govt’s scrapping ofwhole of vehicle marking is “short-sighted”By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsThe Government’s decision to scrapa scheme that was touted as being apotential world leader in reducingcar thefts has been criticised as “shortsighted and ill-conceived” by a Policecar theft expert.The Whole of Vehicle Marking Scheme(WOVM) involves the application of thevehicle’s identification number acrossmuch of a car, using micro-dottingtechnology.Over 32,000 cars were stolen in NewZealand last year – that’s an average ofone every 25 minutes. Vehicle theft is thesecond biggest crime in New Zealand.Annually around 7,000 cars are notrecovered and of these an estimated 85%are stolen by organised professional carthieves, who use sophisticated ‘chop’shops to turn the cars into parts. Theseare sold on the lucrative stolen partsmarket, which generates $80 million ayear for organised crime.Previous Government’s backingThe previous Labour Governmentdecided in December 2004 to introduceWOVM, as part of a comprehensivepackage of vehicle theft reductioninitiatives. This involves sprayingvarious parts of all newly registeredvehicles with over 7,000 microdots,each containing a car’s unique vehicleidentification number (VIN).The WOVM programme was lauded atthe time as a chance for New Zealandto show the world what could bedone to fight vehicle crime using newtechnologies.The cost of microdotting the cars withWOVM is around $80.Imposition of additional costsTransport Minister Steven Joyce said thatthe Government was “very mindful” ofimposing additional costs on consumersin tough economic times. But critics saythat a one-off cost of $80 for the life of avehicle is a small price to pay for peaceof mind. Treasury estimates the life of acar at 20 years – meaning that WOVMwould cost each motorist $4 a year.Insurance companies spoken to by PoliceNews have indicated that they would bewilling to reducepremiums forvehicles sprayedwith the uniquemicrodot paint.In announcing thescrapping of thescheme, Mr Joycesaid the potentialbenefits of it would• Transport Ministerbe significantly Steven Joyceoutweighed by the announced that thecost to motorists. Whole of VehicleMarking (WOVM)But critics of the scheme had beenGovernment’s scrapped by theposition say that Government.two cost-benefitstudies had been carried out, bothproving that WOVM had a positivecost-benefit.Cost efficientMr Joyce said that it was “far more costefficient” to add security features at thepoint of manufacture, rather than aspart of the importing process.Senior Constable Mark Gibson ofWellington, a former motor vehicletheft expert with the Organised CrimeUnit, who has worked in the field for 26years, told Police News that the decisionwas a real blow for policing.“I have spoken to detectives who havebeen around this job from the days whenMark 1 Cortinas and Minis were beingstolen and stripped, and they have alltold me that there has never been anyway of identifying stolen parts, whichare then transferred to other vehicles.Then WOVM came along – the bestcrime-fighting tool we have had in themotor vehicle theft arena and now wefind out it’s not a goer. I am gutted.”Exponential flow-on effectMr Gibson said the thinking behindcanning the WOVM scheme wasextremely short-sighted. “What theyforget is that it’s the exponential flowon of the vehicles that are sprayedwith the data dots that will make themtraceable for around 20 years. Once thewhole fleet had WOVM it would be atremendous saving.”He said that data dots could eventuallysave police an enormous amount of timeand resources because they had thepotential to become mainstream assecurity devices on anything of value thatcould be targeted by burglars or thieves.“They open up a window of possibilitiesin crime fighting that we have never hadpreviously,” he said. Mr Gibson said thereal value of data dot technology is that itwould allow not only police officers butmembers of the public to identify stolencar parts very quickly by checking themagainst a Police register. “That’s the wayit was moving with WOVM for thefuture,” he added.One of the Government’s arguments infavour of scrapping the scheme was thatthe majority of vehicles now come fittedwith immobilising technology, whichprevents a car running unless the correctkey is present. It says this has resulted inthe number of car thefts droppingsubstantially. Car thefts decreased by6.9% in the last reporting year between2007 and 2008.Deterrent effectHowever, Gibson says that whileimmobilizers have a deterrent effect onthe opportunistic end of the car theftmarket, they do not deter organisedcrime syndicates looking to steal highend,expensive model cars to order.Gibson again: “The reality of it is thatyes, a lot of vehicles are coming intothe country with immobilisers and thatis excellent but the organised crooksaren’t stupid, they see a car parked upa driveway or outside a house and theymake sure no one is home and thenburgle the house. Where are you goingto find the car keys? Probably on thebedside table, on the fridge or a keyhook and they steal them and then thecar is gone, immobiliser or not. That’swhere Whole of Vehicle Marking comesinto its own.”Whole of Vehicle Marking is estimatedto have decreased thefts of high-end carsbetween 63% and 92%.The Government is considering anew Land Transport Rule that wouldrequire new and recently manufacturedimported cars to be fitted with an engineimmobiliser before they can enter thevehicle fleet.June 2009127

PoliceNewsThe Voice of Policeby Ricky CollinsNew discoveriesAfter tasting wines from around the worldfor many years, I always find it amazing thatthere are plenty of new regions and new winestyles to discover. At a recent wine tastingrun by New Zealand Master of Wine, StephenBennett, I was introduced to a range of winesfrom Calatayud, a little-known wine-producing region in centralSpain.Steve is an Auckland-based wine importer and distributor, and morerecently a wine producer. His company, Bennett and Deller Wine Ltdbring into New Zealand a wide range of wines from around the world.Steve has a particular interest in Spanish wines, having spent manyyears there sourcing fine wines. An old Scottish friend of Steve’s,and fellow Master of Wine, Norrel Robertson, produces the Armantesrange of wines from Calatayud.The wine region of Calatayud is located in the high altitude northerncentral Spanish region of Aragon. It consists of just 15 wineries orbodegas as they are referred to in Spain, and the annual productionis around 12 million litres of wine. The area is planted mainly in50-year-old dry grown Grenache bush vines that produce wines ofintense and interesting flavour. Here are my thoughts on three ofthese wines.2007 Armantes Old Bush Vine Rose RRP $19After trying a few New Zealand Rosés recently I held the view thatthey were all very sweet, light in flavour and not too serious. Thiswine has changed my views on Rose and what it can be. This isa concentrated wine with lovely vibrant aromas of raspberries andmixed herbs, tasty berry fruit flavours and a crisp dry finish. This isa serious Rosé.2006 Armantes Old Bush Vine Garnacha RRP $20Again, this is a serious dry wine, rich and dark with lifted aromasand concentrated flavours of dark berries and notes of spice andfruitcake. There is a savoury feel to the wine as well and fine dryingtannins on the finish. Don’t be put off by the fact that it has a plasticcork. If cellared well it should age gracefully for five to eight years.2006 Papa Luna RRP $27Those of you who enjoy the great wines of the Southern Rhoneregion of France need to try this special wine. This is a blend ofthree classic Rhone varieties, Grenache, Syrah and Carignan andis a tribute to Pedro Martinez de Luna, a famous 1400s AragonesCardinal and anti-Pope who spent time in the Rhone papal city ofAvignon. This is a rich, concentrated and complex wine with smoothblack fruit flavours. Open this wine and let it breathe before drinkingand it will deliver sumptuous flavours with a delicious mouth-feel. Tome this is as good as Chateauneuf-du-Pape but at half the price.Clues:Across:1. Drug (5)4. Putting down (slang) (7)8. Light of foot (slang) (5)9. Noise reducer (7)10. Strike (3)11. Tack (4)12. Necessities (5)14. Trace causing a response (5)15. Nears broken trap (5)20. Investigate physical or sexual type (5)21. Aid; assist (4)22. Donkey (3)24. Drug maker? (7)25. Hygienic (5)26. Medicinal amounts (7)May answers:Across:1. Dialect5. Grief8. Litre9. Exposers10. A.C.C.11. Testifies13. Choirs14. Engage16. Likeliest17. Ion19. Bailiff21. Ounce22. Elegy27. Customer (6)Down:1. Rudely hurt (6)2. Single out (7)3. Opposite to legend (4)5. N.C.O. rank (8)6. Lazy people (5)7. Forbid to speak (6)9. Italian mountain (4)13. Finger pointing (8)16. Serious crime against a person (7)17. Deliberately made to do it (6)18. Defeat (4)19. Druggie (slang) (6)20. Regions (5)23. Injury sore (4)23. NestlesDown:1. Delta2. Anticlockwise3. Electorate4. Tsetse5. Gap6. Inspirational7. Foresee12. Ignitions13. Calibre15. Deafen18. Needs20. Ivy1 2 3 4 5 6 78 91011 121314 15 1617 18 1920 2122 2324 2526 27128June 2009

New Zealand Police AssociationAct of bravery earns officerssecond highest Police awardBy Deb Stringer, Communications AssistantFending off a gun-wielding fellowUnited Nations (UN) police officer,while deployed in Timor Leste (EastTimor) on a peacekeeping mission twoyears ago, has earned two police officersthe second-highest Police award.Constable Elliot Hira and SergeantCameron Anderson received the silvermerit award recently from PoliceCommissioner Howard Broad. Theaward acknowledges acts of bravery bypolice officers.Both recipients were honoured toreceive the award but said it had been“a bit of a shock”.“I wasn’t expecting it as I had only putElliot’s name forward for it. I mustsay it was a nice surprise though,” MrAnderson said.Mr Hira was equally pleased. “It was anice honour,” he said.Recall of eventHira described the incident, whichhappened when both officers were offduty, as “crazy”.Hira said the drama had unfolded whenthe two were told that a fellow UnitedNations (UN) officer from Pakistan wasmaking threatening gestures with his gunat other officers in the main compound.“A group of UN officers rolled up andtold us that one of the officers had gonecrazy and was pointing his gun at fellowofficers.”“The group of officers were agitated andasked for our help so we decided to godown to the main compound to see ifwe could defuse the situation.”Hira said when they got there they weregreeted by a gun-wielding officer whowas “completely off the wall”.Cameron said he had talked to theofficer before and realised, ratherironically, that the officer was in Dili toteach firearms training.The New Zealand officers learnt thePakistani officer had just finishedholding the Egyptian Commanderhostage in his office.Making the moveAlthough neither Anderson nor Hirawere armed, they realised they weregoing to have to take control of thesituation as the other UN officers hadgone into hiding.“We just started to walk round andround with the guy trying to talk himinto putting the gun down, Hira said.“However, nothing he was saying wasmaking any sense so eventually we hadto make a move and that was whenCameron grabbed the gun out of hishands and I threw the guy to the groundand restrained him.”After it all happened everyone came• Tauranga’s Sergeant Cameron Anderson(left) and Hamilton’s Constable ElliotHira were awarded the silver merit awardafter fending off a gun-wielding fellowUN officer while on deployment in TimorLeste.out of hiding looking very relieved,Anderson said.HindsightIn hindsight, Hira said he felt a “bitangry” as he realised the incident couldhave played out very differently.Anderson described the incident as areal “eye opener” in how poorly trainedsome UN officers were.“It amazed me that some officers seemedto lack the basic skills needed to dotheir job and this became very apparentwhen the incident broke out.”Despite this, both officers said theywould do it all again if they had to.“When you are faced with somethinglike that, you just have to do what youhave to do,” Hira said.“It’s just what us Kiwis do,” Andersonadded.“The world is very different now. For man holds in hismortal hands the power to abolish all forms of humanpoverty, and all forms of human life.”- John F Kennedy.“I am responsible. Although I may not be able to preventthe worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitudetoward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Badthings do happen; how I respond to them defines mycharacter and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit inperpetual sadness, immobilised by the gravity of my loss,or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the mostprecious gift I have – life itself.”- Walter Inglis Anderson (American painter).“You don't know who is important to you until you actuallylose them.”- Mahatma Gandhi (Indian spiritual,political and humaniatarian leader).Our heartiestcongratulations go to StevenPye and Michael Tod who were the winnersof the two sets of double passes in ourSKYCITY Cinemas movie competition, whichwas in last month’s issue.June 2009129

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceThis column is written by a frontlinepolice officer. It does not represent theviews or policies of the Police Association.Battle in the BayWhat a stark reminder in May of how dangerous a job we do on thethin blue line. She’s been a tough 12 months with three fallen matesand I have to admit it brings a tear to the eye far too frequently thesedays. The Police Association survey reflecting the number of constablesbeing threatened with weapons over the past 12 months provided aninteresting insight into the fact that this job of ours is becoming anincreasing challenge.I ask myself and me mates ‘What has changed?’ After muchdiscussion around the smoko table, we keep coming back to drugs,alcohol, political correctness and too much gratuitous violence thathave desensitized our young people. Not a pretty picture when you’recaught wearing blue in the middle of all this tragedy, grief and violence.But it’s what we do and what we chose to do, and we all know we aremaking a difference day in and day out.Kia Kaha to all me mates in the Bay. Know we are grieving with you.Jug headThose of us who spent lazy summer holidays on our backs readingcomic books will remember this character. Seems we still have theodd Area Commander North of the Bombay Hills directing his staff not(yes.... not) to do drugs warrants as his area has a burglary problem!Now this approach really has to be sorted and I know from very reliablesources that our Broad Sword and his Holiness the Pope would notagree with this (lack of) endeavour.You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that much of the crimewe investigate is related!Drugs, alcohol (related), burgs, violence, fraud etc all go hand in handand we need to hammer the Hell out of whatever we identify as causingissues in our communities.We know these crimes feed off each other and I gotta say I’m very tiredof seeing this limited approach being taken by what are supposed to beour leaders in this great job. Damn stats are just that, damn stats, andwe all know they can be manipulated for good or evil. People in thesepositions are supposed to be our ‘big picture’ thinkers and a bit morethan finger painting needs to be done!The mighty All BlacksPut the lucky socks on and get ready for another helter skelter TriNations Series. Looks all good for 2009 with all the NZ Super 14 teamsnear the top of the table.What a ripper of a competition the Super 14 has been this year. Themighty Red and Blacks unfortunately did ‘a Canes’ fall at the second-lastfence impersonation against the ‘raging’ Bulls and while Toddy and theboys have had a few hiccoughs along the way they will bounce back.Trust me on this.See Ya!Irony…160 people get swine flu and everybody wants to wear a mask.A million people die of AIDS and no one wants to wear a condom.June July AugustWAIHEKE ISLAND ........................... 11,17-18,26,30 .............................................1-2,19-23,26,29-30 ................................................4-6,12,14,17-20,24-26,30-31PAIHIA............................................ 14-19,21-25,29-30 .......................................1-2,18-23,29-30 .....................................................2-5,9-14,16-31STANMORE BAY ............................. 10-11,14-18,21-26,28-30 .............................1-3,18-30................................................................2-31AUCKLAND .................................... 18,23,30 ........................................................28............................................................................5-6,18-19,24-26,31WHANGAMATA ............................... 7-11,14-25,28-30 .........................................1-2,7-9,19-31 .........................................................1-31MT MAUNGANUI ............................ 9-11,14-18,21-25,28-30 ...............................1-2,9,13,19-23,26-30 .............................................2-6,9-13,16-20,23-27,30OHOPE ........................................... 11,14-19,22-30 .............................................1-3,11-16,19-24,26-30...........................................2,6-31ROTORUA ...................................... 9-10,14-18,21-23,25,30 ...............................1-2,9,19-23,27-28,30 .............................................2-7,9-13,17,24-26,31TAUPO ........................................... 9-11,15-16,18,21-25,28-30 ..........................1-2,21-23,27-30 .....................................................5-6,17,27TURANGI ........................................ 9-10,15-17,21-25 .........................................Winter ballot ............................................................Winter ballotNAPIER .......................................... 8-10,18,22-23,26,30 .....................................1,4,15,19-23,28-30.................................................2-5,10-13,16-20,23-27PARAPARAUMU .............................. 9-10,16-17,21-25 .........................................1-2,6-7,14-16,19-23,26-30 ....................................6,10-13,16-18,22-26GREYTOWN .................................... 4,7,10-11,14-18,21-25,28-30 .......................1-2,6-8,19-24,26-30...............................................2-6,9-14,16-20,23-27,30-31WELLINGTON ................................. 11,15-17,21-23,29-30 ..................................23,28.......................................................................2-3,5,9-13,17-20,23-27,31NELSON ......................................... 9-11,14-18,21-25,28-30 ...............................1-2,19-20,23...........................................................2-10,15-20,22-27,30-31HANMER SPRINGS ......................... 29 ..................................................................19-22,31 .................................................................Fully bookedCHRISTCHURCH ............................. 10,25,30 ........................................................23,25-30 .................................................................2-5,10-13,15-18,20,23-27,30-31AKAROA ......................................... 23 ..................................................................Fully booked ............................................................4-5,11-12,16-20,25-27TEKAPO ......................................... 18 ..................................................................................................................................................Winter ballot Winter ballotWANAKA ........................................ 7-18,22-25,30 ...............................................1..............................................................................Fully bookedCROMWELL ................................... 8-9,11,21-25 .................................................6,10.........................................................................16-21,30-31QUEENSTOWN ............................... 9-12,21,27-30 ...............................................Winter ballot ............................................................Winter ballotTE ANAU ........................................ 9-11,14-30 ....................................................3-5,7-9,14-16,19-31...............................................1-31DUNEDIN ....................................... 23-25,28-30 ..................................................1-2,8,19-24,26-29 ..................................................2-6,9-14,16-19,26130June 2009

POLICE COUNCIL OF SPORTTo contact the Police Council of Sport, call Alison Murray at the RNZPC. Ph: (04) 238-3139Powerlifting:Darren Neves making his markBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsDarren Neves, an Auckland-based policeofficer, has been going from strengthto strength since starting competitivepowerlifting last year and such has been hisimprovement that he recently finished fourthin the Oceania Champs held in Tahiti.Darren first started weightlifting back incollege 13 years ago but his competitivepowerlifting career blossomed last year whenhe won the 100 kg division at the AucklandChamps.A win in the 90-kg kilogram class at thesubsequent North Island Champs, in July oflast year, boosted Darren’s confidence andhe decided to take on the more seasonedcompetitors at the NZ Champs a month later.He came away with a bronze medal thereand knuckled down to the training requiredto take on the best at the Oceania Champslast December.Challenging conditions“The conditions were really challenging, with35 degree heat and 100% humidity. I mustadmit it was a shock to the system,” Darrentold Police News.Darren relished the experience of being partof the New Zealand team though and at theend off the competition he had registeredthree personal bests with a squat of 235kg,a benchpress of 172.5kg and a deadlift of245kg for a total PB of 652.5kg to take fourthplace.The difference between powerlifting andbodybuilding is that powerlifters train forstrength to see how much weight they canbenchpress, squat and deadlift. Bodybuilderstrain to shape their bodies and while manylook strong they lack the explosive power andstrength of powerlifters. So while a powerliftermight not be as big as a bodybuilder theygenerally have greater core strength.TrainingDarren said he trains for maximum strengthbut not necessarily for size. He said he was“stoked” with his personal bests in Tahiti.“PBs always give you a drive in your sport,especially if you know you don't stand achance for a placing, so driving for a personalbest in at least one of your lifts can be a greatmotivator,” he said. He was very pleasedwith his efforts last year, coming away withpersonal bests at every competition heentered.Darren trains out of the New Lynn ClubPhysical under the guidance of coachStephen King. King won an Oceania title lastyear in the Masters division.Maintaining a tough training regimen canbe challenging with shift work but there arespinoff benefits for the job with the extra corestrength from powerlifting too.“I find having the extra strength helps on the• Darren Neves shows the strain while winning last year’s North Island 90 kg powerlifting championship.Visit www.policeassn.org.nz for updated contact details for the Police Council of Sport management committee,District Sports Officers and the latest schedule of events.June 2009131

PoliceNewsThe Voice of Policefrontline and in life in general. I find it a bitof a challenge with shift work, especially onnight shift but I know if I let anything get inthe way, I won't achieve what I want to be inthe sport. The only way to achieve anythingis to be consistent at it and not to give up,”Darren said.Second Auckland title?He was due to compete in the AucklandChamps as this issue went to press. Afterthat it will be back to try for a second NorthIsland Champs title, with the main aim forthe year being a shot at the CommonwealthChamps in India in December.While Darren has produced some very goodresults to date, he is aware that there is a longway to go and is not getting too far ahead ofhimself. At age 28, he knows the peak yearsfor powerlifting are probably between fourand eight years away, so he still has plenty oftime to break records.Speaking of which, Darren has set his sights onthe open 90kg benchpress Auckland record,which stands at 190 kgs – 18 kilogramsmore than his best lift to date. Darren toldPolice News he is “very pleased” with theway training is progressing at present. “I amgetting stronger with each passing week,” hesaid enthusiastically.MotivationHe is highly motivated and is not one to offerexcuses if things don’t quite work out asplanned. “If you want to achieve somethingin sport you just have to tell yourself thereare no excuses. The hardest part for a lot ofpeople is to get off the couch and into thegym or out onto the pavement for exercise.If you can overcome this it's usually not thatbad once you are in the gym or out on theroad, running. It’s about approaching life in amore positive way. If you want it bad enoughyou will get it,” he said.Darren is very appreciative of the support hehas received from NZ Police, the Council ofSport and the time, effort and guidance fromcoach Stephen King, the man who ensuresthat Darren is in peak condition for eachcompetition.• Darren on his way to taking the bronze medal at the National Champs in Timaru last year.Hockey playerswanted forNational tournamentAny hockey players interested in competingat the National Hockey Tournament inWellington between the 28th September andthe 3rd October are asked to contact thefollowing people listed below.Interested players need to be aware that thisis the New Zealand National Tournamentand, as such, the hockey played is of a highstandard.Women players should contact ToniRobson via Lotus Notes and men shouldcontact Ian Pengelly either via LotusNotes or Ext 92985 or 027 257 2754.New Bills could deal crushing blow to boy racersTwo new Bills that could see recidivist boyracers’ vehicles being sent to the crusher, havegained traction from the Government, and arelikely to be in force by the end of the year.Police Minister Judith Collins and TransportMinister Steven Joyce introduced the plannedlaw changes and Ms Collins told The DominionPost that the legislation would bring the cars ofpersistent boy racers “closer to the crusher”.Police have supported the move and believethe law changes will make a significantdifference.What’s proposed• Courts can order the destruction of carsinvolved in three illegal street-races orburnouts in four years;• Destruction orders can be given even ifsomeone else owns the car;• Courts can disregard sales of cars underthreat or order if the sales were to avoidpenalties, such as destruction;• Police must impound cars for 28 days ifthey are involved in burnouts or racing;• Councils can ban “cruising”- convoys ofboy racers - from certain areas;• Police can remove learner and restrictedlicenceddrivers from the road;• Fines for breaching licences will bereduced from $400 to $100, but demeritpoints raised from 25 to 35; and• Tougher penalties for failing to stop.132June 2009

New Zealand Police AssociationCycling:Stu Downs places 5th in gutbustingGraperide Ultimate (505 kms) raceBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsMost cyclists content themselves with the Round Taupo cycle race asa decent challenge – 160 kilometres - with the testing Hatepe Hill,the equivalent of the Boston Marathon’s Heartbreak Hill, thrown in forgood measure.But that’s just a warm-up for Stu Downs.Stu is into completing extreme distance cycle events such as theMaxi Enduro – a gruelling 640-kilometre event he finished 11th lastNovember in Taupo. As if that was not enough to get the adrenalineflowing and the blood stewing, Stu then knuckled down and set hissights on the inaugural Graperide Ultimate (505 kilometres).The field of 14 gathered for the extreme distance event on the afternoonof Friday, 3 April. The remainder of the 2,500 riders engaged kicked offthe following morning – in a variety of events ranging from the 2,344who contested the Graperide (101 kms) to the 71 who contested theLeppin Magnum (202 kms). There were other races for tandem riders,people riding for cancer fundraisers, a women’s race and 44 contestedthe Speed Bunnies (101 kms) race, where the winner cut out thedistance in a quick 2 hours 28 minutes.DeterminationStu was determined to improve on his effort in Taupo and adopteda high-intensity training programme as a result. It was just as well,with the 505km race including an ex-Olympian (who also won theGraperide's Elite event several years ago), two cyclists who completedthe 1,200km (non-stop) famed Paris-Brest-Paris event, and therunner-up from last year’s Taupo Maxi Enduro. Stu told Police News:"Looking around at the race briefing it was clear that everyone waswell prepared for the race.”Stu's faster paced training included longer circuits such as a 200km tripfrom Kapiti to Palmerston and back...two days in a row, and the 325kmWairarapa Loop. Along the way, he admits that some ill health on theback of a short course race, just two days after a 12-hour training ride,had taught him some lessons on what worked and what didn’t.Higher intensityHis Graperide race plan involved riding at a higher intensity than atTaupo. This approach allowed Stu to keep touch with the leading groupfor the first 40 kilometres and then the group split apart and he was onhis own for the next 465 kilometres!Continuing through a cold night went well, with one notable exception.On overnight rides, Stu had experienced temporary blindness in hisright eye and, unfortunately, on this occasion his left eye also wentblurry at about the 400 km mark. This left the last lap to be completedat a slower speed (welcomed by this stage) and the plan for the last100kms was one of simply staying on the road.Stu again: "The sun was just rising as I was leaving for the start ofthe last lap. I queried an official about my placing and was told I wascurrently in fifth place. There was no way I was stopping when I heardthat."• Stu Downs (foreground) has a penchant for endurance cyclingevents and recently finished a meritorious fifth in the GraperideUlitmate (505 kilometres) race in Marlborough.Toughed it outStu toughed it out to finish a very creditable fifth and said he “reallyenjoyed” reaching the end of the race just behind the elite men in the101-kilometre race.After a thorough set of tests with an eye specialist, Stu has beenadvised his eyes are 100% and that the temporary blindness wasprobably as a result of cold air running past his eyes. Eye drops andwraparound sunglasses have been recommended as a solution.Stu told Police News that it “may be a while before this is tested” withhis new season goals being the two lap Taupo Enduro in Novemberand later a key goal of competing in the NZ Ironman Championship on6 March 2010. Stu formulated the latter goal in April and at that stagehe had not swum or run in the last five years. He has now engaged insome swimming tuition and would welcome info from anyone who haspreviously participated in an Ironman event.An extended write-up on the Graperide Ultimate is on Stu's website:http://no-more-shadows.blogspot.com/2009/04/graperideultimate.htmlHave you moved recently?If you have moved or perhaps are about to, please let us know so wecan update your records. You can do this by:• writing to us at PO Box 12344;• calling us on free phone 0800 500 122;• faxing us on (04) 496 6819; or• Emailing us at: membership@policeassn.org.nzYOU NEED TO LET US KNOW YOUR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER, NEWADDRESS AND IF YOU’RE A SERVING MEMBER - YOUR NEWSTATION.June 2009133

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceTauranga 2 team take Police National Raft Race againThe second annual Police National Raft Racewas held on Black Friday, the 13th of March,on the Kaituna River, near Rotorua.It proved to be unlucky for some but a greatday out for most of the 24 teams from asfar north as Whangarei and as far south asWellington. All teams gathered at the KaitunaCascades rafting base to get a briefing for theday’s events. For most, this was the first timethey had been rafting, let alone competed ina raft race on a river, which is world famousfor its seven metre high waterfall.NervesOnce the race briefing was over, mostcompetitors’ nerves had increased tenfold somany took the opportunity to down the canof “Big Black V”, which was included in thewelcome pack. The Big Black “V” heat wasup first, which included the favoured Rotoruateams and the underdogs, the mighty TaupoTeam. The two teams were introduced toKaituna Cascades professional rafting guideswho were going to steer the rafts down theriver while the teams provided the ‘engine’.As the first heat got under way, othercompetitors took the opportunity to watchfrom several vantage points along the riverto see what they were in for. Tutea Falls puton its famous show with rafts flipping, almostflipping and dumping everyone. A few skilled(read lucky) teams even managed to getdown with their boat upright and all of theirteam intact and still in the raft.Swim start off ledgeThe teams had no time to catch their breathas they dropped off their team’s swimmeronto a rock ledge for the one metre jump tothe swim start. The countdown was givenand the first heat was underway with the sixswimmers jumping off the rock ledge into theturbulent water below and then attempting toswim to their raft. The hometown favourites,Rotorua TAG, showed their class by gatheringtheir swimmer up and blazing off towards thefirst rapid well ahead of the other teams. Butas the old saying goes “the river giveth andthe river taketh”. And taketh it did – trappingthe Rotorua team in a strong eddie at the firstrapid, which allowed the underdogs Taupo toslip through and take first place. Rotorua TAGpushed hard right to the end hoping for anopportunity to pass Taupo but it never cameand Taupo went on to win the heat and entryinto the final.Close contestsThe next three heats where just as closelycontested with Tauranga winning the SudimaHotel heat, Waihi winning the New ZealandAdventure heat and Wellington winning theAgroventures heat. This made for a verystrong final with the addition of last year’schamps, the Tauranga 2 team, gaining entryto the final as well. Due to the Taupo teamhaving to pull out of the final due to an injury,Rotorua TAG replaced them, as runners-upin that heat.As soon as the swimmers were in the wateryou could tell this was no longer a socialevent with them giving it their all. As theswimmers were hauled into their rafts mostwere already feeling the ‘burn’ but the racehad only just started. First to the rapids wasthe youthful Tauranga 2 team, with Waihiright behind them. As the teams entered thestraight to the last rapid they could hear thelarge crowd cheering them on. The Waihiboys gave it one last push but the tenacity ofthe reigning champs allowed them to hold onto the trophy for another year.Two milestonesThis year’s race marked two milestones –one being the first all women’s team, whichhad a very respectable placing in their heat -and the inclusion of a kayak and riversurfingtag team race.Six teams entered the tag team race, whichinvolved the kayakers racing from the TuteaFalls and then tagging their team mate whothen reached the bottom section of the riveron what can only be described as an oversizedboogie board (just like the old ETA Ripples T.V.ad). The race was a game of two halves withRotorua local Dai Edwards showing his skillsand ‘home course’ advantage by droppingover the falls first. But just behind was DrewBennett, who showed that the Taranaki boyshad some skills as well. Some of the otherkayakers took more adventurous lines withone popping his spray skirt turning his kayakinto a submarine and another, unfortunately,managing to cause himself some injuries.Riversurfing debutsFour out of the six riversurfers had never triedthe sport before so they seemed to think therewas safety in numbers as they picked theirroute down through the class three rapids.Sam Parata managed to get a good lead onthe field, which proved too hard to close. As• ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT…gently down the stream…134June 2009

New Zealand Police Associationthe last riversurfer crossed the line the expression on his face spokevolumes - he would definitely be back next year.The prizegiving was just a 100m walk down the road to the Okere FallsBeer Garden, which was the perfect venue to sit down to trade storiesover a BBQ dinner and quiet beer. Murray McKenzie was the winner ofthe major spot prize - a weekend for two in Rotorua, which includedproducts from several major sponsors like TEVA and Smith Optics. Theprize was valued at over $1,000.As night came, conversation turned to strategies for next year’s eventand how teams would have to get in early, as they didn’t want to missout like the two teams who were on the waiting list for this year’sevent. The 2010 event will be bigger and better and will be held onFriday the 12th of March with registrations for teams opening on the1st of November 2009 on a first-come-first-served basis.• THE BIG DIPPER: “Gee this gives new meaning to the organiser’spre-race description of ‘go downstream’ people”.New Zealand Police Ski Champs 2008 & 2009The 2008 NZ Police Association Ski champs were held at Cardrona SkiField, 40 minutes north of Queenstown late last year.This saw a greater contingent of South Island competitors enter theannual event along with the usual North Island crew who had travelledfrom as far a field as Whangarei.Day one was a warm up, free ski day, which saw everyone skiingtogether and enjoying the camaraderie and some excellent springconditions at Coronet Peak. The great weather continued into day twofor some exciting racing over a well-set, lengthy slalom course.Farrell and Donaldson topsTauranga’s Mark Farrell appeared Ingemar Stenmark-like with his gatebashing style to take out the men's division ahead of Gisborne’s ScottPitkethley and Invercargill’s Dave Cowie. Lynne Donaldson claimednumber one spot amongst the women.Thick cloud ended any opportunity of running a skier cross on daythree, however, the Giant Slalom was successfully held with the localsAaron Nicholson and Lynne Donaldson clocking the fastest combinedOfficer’s gut feeling right on the moneySometimes you have to go with your gut feeling and thehunch of an officer involved in apprehending a young couplefor a breathalyser test resulted in police uncovering a hoaxcall, which the young woman had made to Comms to distractpolice so she could drive home.After being apprehended for possible drink-driving and toldnot to drive home, the young couple said they would walkto a local taxi stand and get a cab home. However, insteadthey cooked up a scheme to divert police to an alleged armedtimes over two runs. The overall titles were determined from the fastestcombined times over the four runs to give the following results:Open Men’s: Mark Farrell 1, Aaron Nicholson 2, Malcolm Johnston 3.Open Women’s: Lynne Donaldson 1, Sue Moult 2.Over 50’s: Stu Hewitt 1, Brian Benn 2.Snowboard: Lucy Field 1, Sam Webb 2.Support appreciatedThe event was rounded off with a meal in Queenstown and prizegiving,which saw everyone take home a spot prize. Many thanks from theorganisers and competitors to the Police Association and Council ofSport for their support, which aided greatly in the successful runningof the champs.The 2009 Champs will be back to the North Island at Turoa SkiField over the dates 31st Aug to 2nd Sept so book your leave now.Entries are also open for Snowboarders. For an entry form andfurther information or accommodation don’t hesitate to contacteither Scott Pitkethley or John Daunton via Lotus Notes.robbery at a local service station some 500 metres from wherethey had been stopped.However, one of the officers involved had a ‘gut instinct’ thatsomething was wrong and got Comms to redial the numberthe 111 call had come from. The ruse was soon up when theyoung woman’s cell phone began ringing.She then admitted her actions.A 22-year-old East Auckland woman was arrested for makinga false complaint and attempting to drive with excess breathalcohol as a result of the incident.We remember…Who passed away…McLEOD Norman Alexander 22-Apr-09 Retired member RotoruaNICHOLSON Bruce Craig James 22-Apr-09 Retired member HamiltonSTEWART Paul Lyall 2-May-09 Member DarfieldSUTHERLAND Valerie Christina Mary 2-May-09 Widow of retired member RotoruaSNEE Leonard 7-May-09 Member NapierTIKITIKI Glenyss Margaret 11-May-09 Spouse of member Te PukeQUIRKE Mary Theresa 18-May-09 Spouse of member WaikanaeCOOPER Ian Alexander 22-May-09 Retired member TaurangaJune 2009135

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceIntroducing…Police LifeInsurance Extra!‘Police Life Insurance Extra’ (formerly Supplementary Life Plan) isa low-cost, flexible cover policy, which provides a benefit if youdie or are diagnosed with a defined critical illness or debilitatingcondition.Provided through the Police Welfare Fund, the cover has beenspecifically designed for:• members who need a little more insurance than their GroupLife cover provides;• a member’s partner/spouse or adult children a good, low-costlife cover; and• members who are retiring or resigning and want to keeptheir life cover without the hassle of medical assessment andpossible exclusion of existing medical conditions.Why the name change?For some time there have been concerns over how reflective thename ‘Supplementary Life Plan’ is of the product provided andthere has been confusion for members around what the coveractually offers.Supervisor of Insurances, Debbie Jackson said: “Initially, theSupplementary Life product was intended to provide additional (orsupplementary) insurance to members with sworn and non-sworngroup life policies and primarily be a top-up insurance cover.”The reality today is that the main ways the cover is being used isas: life and critical illness cover for a member’s spouse or partnerand adult children; top-up cover for members; and continued lifecover for retired/resigned members.Buying a house?The cover will also be accepted by most banks in place ofMortgage Repayment Insurance and represents a much cheaperoption.“This product provides much more to members than a supplementto the group life policies and its new name now reflects this,”Debbie Jackson said.Police LifeInsuranceExtraSnapshot• Low-cost life insurance solution.• Flexible - whether it’s your mainpolicy or a top- up on existingcover, you can take as little or asmuch as you need.• Provides a lump-sum to anominated person, on death.• May also be extended to providea lump sum if diagnosed witha defined critical illness orcondition (e.g. major headtrauma).• Buying a house? This is bettervalue for money than MortgageRepayment Insurance.Who is eligible to apply for thisspecial cover?• Police Welfare Fund members,whether serving, retired orresigned;• Your partner or spouse; and• Any of your adult children.For more information or to workout how much cover you mightneed visit the Online Police LifeInsurance Calculator on theInsurance page of our website:www.policeassn.org.nzor call us on 0800 500 122,8:00am to 5:30pm,Monday to Friday.136June 2009

New Zealand Police AssociationHome buying hints fromThe National BankHome Loans – your questions answeredOver the last few months we’ve seen some big changes in home loaninterest rates. In this article you’ll fi nd answers to some of the commonquestions about home loans in the current environment.Why are longer term fixedrates going up when shortterm rates are going down orstaying the same?Short-term rates are infl uenced by theOffi cial Cash Rate (OCR) and may fallin line with falls in the OCR. However,longer term fi xed rates are moreaffected by other factors such as trendsin overseas fi nancial markets. That’sbecause, to provide longer term fi xedrate loans for their customers, banksand other fi nancial institutions have toborrow money from overseas moneymarkets. At the moment that money isharder and more expensive to get, fora number of reasons:• The global economic turmoil hascreated a lot of uncertainty. Asa result, overseas lenders aredemanding higher margins tocompensate them for the increaseduncertainty involved in longer termloans;• Lenders are ‘pricing in’ theexpectation that interest rates willrise over the long term, partly dueto infl ation as a result of the moneygovernments are pumping into theireconomies to try and stimulateeconomic activity; and• Demand for long-term lending hasbeen strong, and the increasedcompetition for funds also drives upinterest rates.All these factors mean banks and otherfi nancial institutions have to pay moreto obtain long-term funding for theircustomers. The recent rises in longtermfi xed interest rates for home loansare a refl ection of those increasedcosts.Should I fix my home loanrate or opt for a floating rateat the moment?No one can accurately predict whatinterest rates will do in the future – sorather than trying to guess which wayrates will go, focus on your situationand what’s important to you.If you want to be able to repaylump sums so you can pay off yourmortgage faster, a floating ratemight suit you as it gives maximumfl exibility. The tradeoff is that floatingrates can change at any time, so youneed to be able to manage if rates riseand your repayments increase in thefuture. If it’s more important to knowexactly what your payments will be soyou can budget, a fixed rate may beright for you. The tradeoff is that theyoffer less fl exibility to make lump sumrepayments and if you want to breakyour loan during your fi xed rate term,you may incur a charge (see belowfor more information). If you wantto be able to use your home loan tofi nance other things like a car, boator renovations, a flexible home loanmay be a better option. We can giveyou more information, help you assessyour needs and help you decide what’sbest for you. Just call us on0800 800 808 or come into anyNational Bank branch.What happens if I break myfixed interest home loan?If you’re thinking about breakingyour existing fi xed rate loan to takeadvantage of the current interestrates, you’ll need to balance thelower interest rate against the EarlyRepayment Recovery charge that willgenerally apply. For details about TheNational Bank’s Early RepaymentRecovery, when it applies and howmuch it is likely to be, visit ourHome Buyers Centre(www.homebuyerscentre.co.nz), andclick the ‘Managing Your Loan’ tab.If you’d like to fi nd out more informationabout Police Home Loans fromThe National Bank, call 0800 800 808,or contact your local branch orMobile Mortgage Manager.06-2009OUR LENDING CRITERIA, TERMS, CONDITIONS AND FEES APPLY. WHERE BORROWING OVER 80% OF A PROPERTY’S VALUEIS APPROVED, A LOW EQUITY PREMIUM ON A GRADUATED SCALE WILL APPLY AND A REGISTERED VALUER’S REPORT IS RE-QUIRED. THIS MATERIAL IS PROVIDED AS A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE OF THE NATIONAL BANK. IT IS PREPARED BASED ONINFORMATION AND SOURCES THE BANK BELIEVES TO BE RELIABLE. ITS CONTENT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY, IS SUBJECTTO CHANGE AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR COMMERCIAL JUDGEMENT OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, WHICH SHOULD BESOUGHT PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO ANY TRANSACTIONS. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE NATIONAL BANK DIS-CLAIMS LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY TO ANY PERSON FOR ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT LOSS OR DAMAGE THAT MAY RESULTFROM ANY ACT OR OMISSION BY ANY PERSON IN RELATION TO THE MATERIAL.June 2009137

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceWrite it here! Letters to the Editor are welcome.Signed letters are preferred, but in all cases the writer’s name and address must be supplied. Names will be published unless there is a goodreason for anonymity. The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or decline letters without explanation. Email to: editor@policeassn.org.nz orwrite it to the Editor at PO Box 12344, Wellington. Letters under 400 words are preferred.Thanks to the Police family for supportOn behalf of Hawke’s Bay and Eastern Districtstaff and the families of Len Snee, Bruce Millerand Grant Diver, I would like to thank all ofthe Police staff, both past and present, thathave expressed their support, condolences andcamaraderie following the death of our friendand workmate, Len Snee.The messages that have been received from allaround New Zealand and overseas have providedencouragement and support at a difficult time.We often talk about the Police family, but it isat times like this that you actually realise howimportant that support is to all of us as we goabout our job.The support from former Police members showsthat you can leave the job, but you never actuallyleave the Police family. It was great to see sucha big turnout of past and present members fromaround the country at Len’s funeral.Len was always the ultimate team player, both insport and at work. I know he would appreciatethe support that his local team has received.Thank you.Luke N Shadbolt(Director Region 4, New Zealand Police Association)Commendation vs MeritI'd like to start off by clarifying that this letter isnot intended to discredit or downplay anyonewho has either received, is about to receive, orin the future will receive either a Commissioner’sCommendation or Merit Award for their workwithin the Police.Personally, I believe there aren't enough "patson the back" for the job we do, which as weall know, is getting harder with budgets andresources being cut, not to mention the greaterpublic scrutiny we seem to be under these days.However, I do believe the powers that be(whoever they are) need to clarify what isdeserving of a Commissioner’s Commendationand what is deserving of a Merit Award.I read in the Ten One about staff getting thesevarious awards and sometimes I have to shakemy head.Call me old fashioned but I'm of the opinionthat a Commissioner’s Commendation is for“doing your job" well and a Merit Award is foran "act of bravery". Maybe that's too simplisticfor a department that seems to thrive on puttingthings through the complicator.When someone does their job well, be it a longand protracted inquiry/investigation, whichresults in a conviction or some other in-depthincident that comes to a satisfactory conclusion,sure, give the officer/s a Commissioner’sCommendation. If someone carries out an act ofbravery or courage, which endangers his or herlife in order to save others or capture offenders(remember those days when we used to catchbaddies?) give them a Merit Award and onebefitting their efforts.It’s about time we saw more gold and silver meritsbeing handed out...although bronze is still good!None of us at the start of our shifts actively goout there expecting these commendations andawards, but if they are deserved then award them.If you can't, at least acknowledge a job well donewith a "pat on the back". It will go a long way.Pete Greenland(Christchurch)Warnings don’t workOur Police Minister's comments in the Aprilissue of Police News where she said: "…actionsbeing taken against generally law-abiding peopleand you can talk about quotas or targets for tickets orwhatever as an example, that actually underminesthe respect that the public has for the Police and Idon't think that works for Police" suggest that shehas been listening to the vocal minority whosupport everyone else being ticketed, but notthem.It's well documented in international literaturethat warnings don't work, and that a consistentzero tolerance approach is the most effective wayof changing behaviour on the roads; behaviourthat causes horrific carnage.The "generally law-abiding public" that theMinister refers to are those that feature far toooften in fatalities and serious injury crashes thatour frontline staff have to clean up after.At 'our place' in Tasman, the previously silentmajority have become more vocal and supportthe tough stance that we have taken with lawbreaking road users, and they support what wedo because they see the positive outcomes.The Ministry of Transport’s 2007 Public Attitudesto Road Safety Survey shows that 45% of thepublic want Police efforts in catching peoplebreaking the law increased even further and47% want it maintained at the current highlevel; that’s 92% support.No one is obliged to drive over the speed limit,nor are they obliged to drive around withouttheir seat belt on.'A Leadership Primer' by General Colin Powell,Chairman (Ret), reads in part; "Being responsiblesometimes means pissing people off. Goodleadership involves responsibility to the welfare ofthe group (read community), which means thatsome people will get angry at your actions anddecisions. Trying to get everyone to like you is asign of mediocrity.”We are not here to win a popularity contest; ourjob is to save lives.After 17 years it's time to move on and realisethat effective and consistent road policingchanges behaviour, reduces trauma and catchescriminals too.It's worth noting that at 'our place' the specialistHighway Patrol, TAG and STU traffic units havea ratio of 82% ex-GDB personnel.Instead of bagging them, how about someconstructive effort being made to increase thefunding and the ratio of frontline GDB staffacross the country, so that they are happierstaying on section.Hugh Flower(Road Policing Manager, Tasman).Supporting our Police staffI am writing in support of the Police and thefact that these men and women are out thereto protect the public but appear to only receivecriticism. Our Police Force has to encounter alltypes of situations and more often of late puttheir life on the line.In my, and I daresay many other members of thepublic’s opinion, we should bring back the deathpenalty for shooting a police officer. I believe wemembers of the public forget that police officersare human and they have bad days like the restof us and they have families and children wholove them.More public support to assist the Police and toassist one another is the only way this countrycan return to the peaceful place it once was.Make the punishment fit the crime.I say thank you (which is not enough) to thePolice for their work, which has unsocial hoursand every danger you could possibly meet. Theycontinually clear up our mess to endeavour tomake our country a safer place to live in.“Deeply Concerned”(Northland)Promotions framework changesI write in response to several letters to PoliceNews over the last few months regarding changesto the NZ Police promotions framework,particularly around the Core Policing Knowledgeexamination (CPK). Changes to the frameworkare based on establishing future promotionalrequirements, systems and processes in linewith identified current and future organisationalneeds and educational best practice. Modelsexamined as part of these changes included:• OSPRE (United Kingdom);• Ontario (Canada);• South Australia Police;• New South Wales Police; and• Tasmania Police.Changes to CPK in particular, reflected concernsfrom stakeholders (including those engaged inthe promotions system) of a distinct shift infocus over the past 10 years from Police-specificknowledge, skills and application to a moregeneral and diffuse emphasis.The design of the CPK followed extensiveconsultation, both internal and external. Advicewas sought from law and education professors138June 2009

New Zealand Police Associationfrom Victoria University, including an internationally reputed expert ineducational evaluation and assessment with expertise in multiple-choice(MCQ) assessments.The final product was based on candidates demonstrating they possessedknowledge that:• Sergeants must possess ‘there and then’; and• Permeates and drives core parts of a Sergeant's duties (influencingdecisions and contributing to achieving effective, professional and ethicalperformance).In essence, the exam consisted of examination of 'must know' material.MCQ's are a proven and successful model for assessing knowledge ofcandidates. The jurisdictions listed above all employ MCQ's as part oftheir examination processes. While having a slightly higher pass mark,the NZ CPK actually examines a smaller syllabus than these otherjurisdictions, has fewer questions, and fewer distractors per questionthan many of these jurisdictions.Despite some opinions of 'multi-guess' and 'read and regurgitate', MCQ'sare a fairer means of testing knowledge of candidates who have investedtime in studying the full range of the syllabus, as opposed to 'gambling'on what will be examined. The feedback from a variety of sources hasbeen significantly positive.A significant amount of time and effort was required to develop theCPK from the concept stage to its final product. Return of examinationscripts to candidates was considered, but due to maintaining the integrityof the examination question bank, was not an option in the initial yearsof delivery. However, each candidate (407 in total) has been providedindividual feedback on his or her examination by way of personal Email.The five year currency factor for the CPK is a means of ensuring thatpeople taking the step up in promotion have been certified as having thecore knowledge required for that rank, particularly given changes, notjust in legislation but in evidential requirements and Police practices thatoccur over time.I acknowledge that for some individuals, the changes will have animpact. However, this is about ensuring current competency not just forindividuals but the organisation as a whole.I would encourage members to continue to provide feedback regarding anyframework changes to the Leadership, Management and Command Group.Sean McManus(Acting Manager; Leadership, Management & Command Training, RNZPC)IN REPLY: Trevor Morley (Wellington), “Not PC” (Christchurch) andAndrew Collins (Wellington) – thank you for your letters on this subject.Many others have also raised points on both sides of the argument aboutthe Manukau Police Station opening and the related Maori protocols.Correspondence has now been closed. Thank you for your views. BruceComfort (Oamaru); The points you make are noted but the matter itselfand your dissatisfaction with the result you got might be best dealtwith at a local level – perhaps by forwarding your letter to the AreaCommander in this instance.NEWRETAILERSPolice AssociationMember Discounts ProgrammeThe following retailers have joined our Member DiscountsProgramme.Navman - a NZ company which has become a globalpioneer in navigation technology, offers members asubstantial discount on Navman’s most popularportable navigation devices. All units are developed andtested by their team in NZ and come with the latestGeosmart/AA maps.Kea Campers- a multi-award-winningoperator of more than1200 luxury campervans,motorhomes and 4WDcampers, offers membersa significant discount of20% off their rates forcampervans both hereand in Australia.To find out about these and other discounts throughthe Member Discounts Programme - go online to the‘Members Only’ section of our websitewww.policeassn.org.nz. Sign-on then click on “MemberDiscounts” from the menu on the left-hand side of thescreen to go through to view all the discounts available.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 9418June 2009139

POLICE TRAVELPAC INSURANCELeisure travel cover you and your family can trust, when you need it mostTravelpac offers quality, cost competitivetravel insurance cover for Police WelfareFund members travelling overseas.Features of Travelpac• Emergency Assistance 24 hours, 7 days a week anywhere in the world.• 15% premium discount for members of Police Health Plan.Cover Summary:(The following is a summary of cover only. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to the Policy wording attached for full details)• Overseas medical and related expenses.• Purchase of essential items should your luggage be mislaid for over 12 consecutive hours.• Loss of deposits, travel delay, missed connections, hijack and legal costs.• Any additional accommodation and expenses to return to New Zealand in the event of death, serious injury or seriousillness of a relative or someone in New Zealand that your travel relies on.• Loss or damage to luggage and personal effects, money and documents.• Accidental death and permanent disability.• Personal liability.• Reimbursement of rental car excess.American Home Assurance Company(New Zealand Branch)Trading as AIG New ZealandIncorporated with Limited Liability in the U.S.A.A Member Company of American International Group, Inc.To apply or for furtherinformation visitwww.policeassn.org.nzor call us on0800 500 122