Total recorded assaults on Police - New Zealand Police Association

New Zealand Police AssociationNoted rugby stalwart Tom Dennis diesMany serving and retired members of theNZ Police nationwide will have noted withsadness, the passing of one of the NZPolice rugby’s greatest stalwarts.Seventy-eight year-old Tom Dennis passedaway in December last year. His health haddeclined in the past 12 months. His funeralin mid-December was attended by a largegathering of family, friends and serving andpast colleagues who held him in the highestregard.An outstanding mentor and a ‘fatherconfessor’ to decades of rugby players,Tom was involved in all aspects of Policerugby provincially and nationally for 43years until his retirement in 1990.50th anniversaryAlthough he was ailing, Tom attended the50th anniversary of the Auckland PoliceRugby Football Club in April 2009. Headdressed the gathering of 150 “oldies”and after he sang his waiata, he received astanding ovation, a richly deserved salute tohis mana.A Korean War veteran, Tom joined the Policeafter demobilisation in 1956 and spenthis entire service in Auckland and SouthAuckland.Injury ended careerHe played senior rugby for Grafton for almosta decade, as well as for Auckland Police untilDunedin “Five O” Police Touch team topsThe National Corrections Touch Tournament was held on 20 February in Dunedin andhosted by the Otago Corrections Facility (OCF). Teams and competitors came from Ngawha,Auckland, Spring Hill, Waikeria, Christchurch, Invercargill and Dunedin. The Dunedin “Five O”Police Touch team won the overall tournament and beat Spring Hilton Mafia in the final 5-3.• (Back row, left to right): Trevor Thomson, Jono Airey, Toni Pelasio, Warren Duncan, JasonGuthrie, JP Tremain, Eve Tremain, Adrian Cheyne, John Cunningham. Front row TyronPelasio, Gwen Brazier.suffering a serious leg injury. He turnedto administering the game and servedfor many years as an Auckland Policeselector, coach and manager, includingas the NZ Police liaison officer during theFiji Military rugby tour of New Zealand in1977 (Sitivina Rabuka was the team’scaptain).He was selector, coach and manager ofthe South Auckland Police team for thewhole of the 1980-1990 decade.Retired senior constable Paul Stantonsaid Tom was a great ambassador forPolice. “He was a thorough gentlemanand a wonderful family man. He is sorelymissed,” Paul said. – By Joe Franklin.Good medal haul at Masters Games for southernersAbout 40 Police staff from Dunedin,Balclutha, Wanaka and Oamaru competed inthe NZ Masters Games in Dunedin held in thefirst week of February.They competed in a wide range of sportsincluding touch, softball, volleyball,swimming, athletics, soccer, cricket, netball,squash, golf, the marathon, duathlon,mountain biking and dance sport.The Dunedin/Otago Police Council of Sportfunded more then 35 members’ entry feesin the Games and organiser Toni Pelasio saidthe athletes were “most appreciative” of theCouncil’s support.“The majority of staff got through the Gameswith no major injuries. However, there were afew aches, pains and strains and some tiredheads from partying at the village,” Toni said.Some notable winners were Ian Paulin - goldin triathlon, silver in the open water swim and3,000m individual pursuit, Simon Richards- gold in squash, Craig Mcdowall - gold induathlon, Jan Craig - silver in the 1500mand 3000m, Phil Clark - gold in trapshooting,Shona Low - gold in volleyball and swimming,Amelia Steel - gold in volleyball, BridgetOskam - gold in volleyball, Toni Pelasio -gold in touch, softball, volleyball, and silverand bronze in indoor netball, and Nick Wellswho got a gold in swimming and silver involleyball.• Gold medals abound: (From left to right at back): Amelia Steel, Shona Low, ToniPelasio, and (front) Ian Paulin.April 201079