Police News April 05.indd - New Zealand Police Association

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April 2005Warning: Don’t try this at homeThe following excerpts were taken fromvideos of interactions between Americanpolice officers and the public accordingto an Email circling the globe. Who saidpolice had no sense of humour?“Relax, the handcuffs are tight becausethey’re new. They’ll stretch out after youwear them a while.”“Take your hands off the car, and I’llmake your birth certificate a worthlessdocument.”“If you run, you’ll only go to jail tired.”“Can you run faster than 1,200 feet persecond? In case you didn’t know, that isthe average speed of a 9mm bullet firedfrom my gun.”“So you don’t know how fast you weregoing. I guess that means I can writeanything I want on the ticket, huh?”“Yes, Sir, you can talk to the shiftsupervisor, but I don’t think it will help.Oh ... did I mention that I am the shiftsupervisor?”“Warning! You want a warning? O.K., I’mwarning you not to do that again or I’llgive you another ticket.”Police News The Voice of Police“The answer to this last question willdetermine whether you are drunk or not.Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?”“Yeah, we have a quota. Two more ticketsand my wife gets a toaster oven.”“Just how big were those two beers?”“No sir we don’t have quotas anymore.We used to have quotas but now we’reallowed to write as many tickets as wewant.”“I’m glad to hear the Chief of Police is agood personal friend of yours. At least youknow someone who can post your bail.”“You didn’t think we gave tickets to prettywomen? You’re right. We don’t SignBook review:Mesquite Smoke DanceAuthor: Andrew GrantThis is the first book in a trilogy – Smoke, Fire and Ash. It is set in Texas. A brutal andsadistic serial killer is on the loose and Mac Benton, Inspector for the Texas division of theNational Homicide Task Force, is the officer in charge of the investigation.Like most novels of this genre, the main character, Mac Benton, is a flawed individual.He is a loner haunted by the death of his wife and unborn son in an automobile accidentand the ghost of his former partner still inhabits his office. He is reluctantly teamed upwith a new partner Karen Birdie Falcone, haunted by her own demons.I found this book very hard going initially. In fact, I almost gave up. However, Ipersevered and ended up pleased that I did. It picked up and had some interestingtwists and turns, especially when the killer is eventually tracked down.What is even more interesting is that Andrew Grant is a New Zealand author. Thissurprised me, given the American feel to the novel.If you are like me and enjoy a thriller, give it a go. – Reviewed by Leeann Peden.HOLIDAY HOME AVAILABILITY– for bookings see: www.policeassn.org.nzAPRIL MAY JUNEPAIHIA 10-11 17, 19, 22, 29-30, 31 1-2, 5, 6-9, 13-23, 24-30STANMORE BAY 10-13, 14, 25, 30 1-5, 8-13,15-19,22-31 1-30AUCKLAND 14 1-4, 17, 23-24, 31 1-2, 6-9, 16, 19-22, 22-23, 26-29WHANGAMATA 8, 15, 1-4, 8, 16-18, 18-19, 22-26, 29-31 1-9, 10-17, 20-30MT MAUNGANUI Fully booked 1, 3-5, 8-10, 11, 14-19, 22-26, 29-31 1-2, 5-8, 9-10, 12-16, 19-23, 26-30OHOPE 10-12 5-7, 10-23, 29-31 1-16, 19-30ROTORUA 10, 14 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 23-26, 29-31 1-2, 5, 8-9, 10, 11-16, 19-20, 24-30TAUPO 10, 22, 28-29, 30 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-31 1-2, 6-9, 12-14, 15-16, 18-23, 26-30TURANGI 10-14, 21, 29, 30 1-5, 8-13, 15-26, 27-31 1-2, 5-30NAPIER 10-14 4-5, 8-12, 15-19, 23-24, 25-26, 29-31 1-3, 6-8, 12-30PARAPARAUMU 24 1-5, 8-11, 15-19, 23-26, 29 6-9, 12-16, 19-23. 26-29GREYTOWN 28 8, 12, 16-17, 22-26, 29-31 1-3, 6-9, 12-13, 19-23, 26-30WELLINGTON 10 1, 19, 22-26, 29-30 6-8, 9, 16, 19-22, 26-27NELSON 14 2-5, 9-19, 23-28, 30-31 1-2, 5-30HANMER SPRINGS Fully booked 4-5, 30-31 1-2, 29CHRISTCHURCH Fully booked 9, 11-12, 15-16, 18-19, 22-26, 29-31, 1, 6-9, 12-14, 15, 19-23, 27-30TEKAPO Fully booked 1-2, 6-9, 12-16, 19-22, 27-30WANAKA Fully booked 2-3, 7-8, 11-13, 19, 22, 23-26, 27-31, 1-2, 5, 7-21, 21-24,CROMWELL 11, 23, 1-12, 15, 18, 21-22, 27-31, 1, 3, 6-18, 20-30QUEENSTOWN Fully booked 12, 22-23TE ANAU 10, 11-14, 30 1-6, 9-13, 18-19, 20-31 1-2, 6-10, 13-30DUNEDIN Fully booked 1-3, 16-18, 23, 29-31 1-2, 9, 12-16, 22-23, 26-2862
New Zealand Police AssociationApril 2005Letters to the Editor Write 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 good reason for anonymity. The editor reserves theright to edit, abridge or decline letters without explanation. Email to: editor@policeassn.org.nzor write it to the Editor at PO Box 12344, Wellington. Letters under 400 words are preferred.The merit of demeritsIt’s been said before - “Can we please modifythe topical issue of traffic enforcement”.We know our present system of heavy finesand demerit points is unpopular and it is reallyquite ineffective for our target groups. We nowhave roadside suspensions underway andthey’re awesome! We have been assured thereis work being done to tidy up the unpaid finesand demerit point system.So what if we now enlarge the catchments ofdemerit points and, at the same time, reducethe fines? For example, if you don’t wear yourseatbelt – a $10 fine and five demerits. Anunregistered vehicle could result in a $20 fineand 10 demerits. A breach of graduated driverlicence might be a $50 fine and the current 25demerits. Get the idea?The fines to be paid are no longer cripplingand should be affordable, irrespective of wherethey fit in the food chain. Take the medicine,learn and move on. If motorists don’t learnthen demerits will kick in and achieve the realenforcement. If drivers continue to offendthey will lose the privilege to drive.The wonderful tool of impounds would benext. It should be an easy choice for driversand would calm the ‘revenue-gathering’ cry.Too simple, or is that we really are revenuegathering?Bruce Farley(Masterton)Just gob smacked!I read the paragraph the first time and thoughtI was seeing things…then I read it again, justto make sure I wasn’t mistaken…Yep I wasright the first time.….Page 5 of the Jan/Febissue of the Police News contains an articleentitled “Priority One response time slower:”Hidden in the article is this gem, under thesub-title “No time to waste:”“But Mr. Hawkins said that police officers arrivingat Priority One or emergency jobs needed to focuson the incident rather than wasting valuable timecontacting the Communications Centre to log theirarrival.”Having worked in South Auckland for thelast seven years, I know I’m preaching to theconverted about this so I won’t outline what wecan face when we arrive, we’ve all been there.“Wasting time” may one day save my life!“Gob Smacked”(Counties-Manukau)Please see the letter below– Editor.Minister says he wastaken out of contextLast month’s issue of Police News carrieda letter from Jeff Welch of Nelson, which,unfortunately, omitted to quote me fully,and therefore quoted me out of context.What I actually said in my media statementwas “The first priority for officers arrivingat a scene is to try to deal with the incident– not to spend precious time contactingthe Communications Centre to log theirarrival. The public would rightfully criticiseus if police sat in the car to register theirarrival rather than deal with the issue whichbrought them there.”Response time targets are set by the Policeto ensure everyone understands what theexpectations are. In the vast majority of cases,expectations will be exceeded because Policewill arrive sooner than the target responsetime.I fully endorse the great work being doneby Police, which has been confirmed by therelease of the 2004 recorded crime statistics,showing a nationwide reduction in crime of8.2%.Hon George Hawkins(Minister of Police)Reflections fromBougainvilleOn deployment to Bougainville, you havetime to sit and think quite a bit about allsorts of things, including how the familyis doing back home, how are our sportingteams doing and what’s happening on thepolicing front? Even here, we’ve heardof the problems facing our organisation,including the Comms saga, the debacle withTama Iti, the Commission of Inquiry intoPolice Conduct and allegations about theever-present, over-zealous road policing.Now the Police hierachy can roll out theusual line of “there is no ticket quotasystem in place”, but any police officerwilling to tell the truth will admit to thesubtle pressure placed on us to keep thecontacts per hour up, and what are contacts,warnings, assists? - Oh yes...tickets.What happened to discretion, or as I’veheard, don’t we have discretion anymore fortraffic offences?I agree, that road policing is a veryimportant facet of policing, but it shouldnot be to the detriment of other coreactivities. The government does not mindspending money on road policing as theyknow that what they get back in ticketrevenue will far outway what they havespent. Unfortunately, frontline policing andinvestigative work does not generate moneyfor the government.At my rugby club, everyone seems to havea negative story of their dealings with Policeregarding either a speeding ticket or someother matter regarding a traffic incident.Even though ticket revenue is going up,public confidence and backing is goingdown. This could cause major problemsin the future in regard to investigations andjurors. One negative from an officer on roadpolicing duty could influence that person ina future encounter with Police.Road policing officers have differentcoloured patrol cars, so why not give thema different coloured uniform too? Thenthere will be no confusion. In short, a sort ofreturn to the old Ministry of Transport butunder the Police umbrella.After this, I know I’m going to find it hardto get a gold medal for my police drivingwhen I get back, as I will undoubtedly haveto face a road policing officer to get it.Am I a lone voice in this or am I the last ofthe Mohicans?Jim Casson(Bougainville, PNG)Stab resistant vestsand safetyIt was great to hear that Constable JohnDustow was able to be there and enjoyChristmas with his family, and be there forhis daughter in the future also. It is notuntil something like this happens that werealise how much we have to lose.It is hoped that the District Staff SafetyOfficer has ensured that a thorough incidentinvestigation has been completed, revealinghow this “near hit” incident arose (reportedon POL645).Stab resistant vests or body armour area good piece of preventative equipmentto minimise injury. However, it would bedisappointing to think that other hazardcontrol methods, processes and proceduressuch as body searches have not beenimplemented because SRBA was being worn.Had this officer not been wearing the vest,the department and OSH would now beinvestigating a serious harm and possibly fatalincident resulting in the possible prosecutionof the department and/or officer(s). If we thinkthat OSH only prosecute private companiesand would not prosecute another publicservice we are very much mistaken. We justneed to look at the stress issue with WINZin Tauranga. See the Safeguard magazine forcourt lists.The biggest concern is that staff will feelinfallible in this piece of equipment anddispense with other hazard controls. Goodhealth and safety practice, especially withhazard control methods is to have multiplecontrols ensuring maximum safety.Late last year our District OSH committee63
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