Police News June 09.indd - New Zealand Police Association

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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
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