“I'm No Hero” - New Zealand Police Association

New Zealand Police Association NewsletterNovember 2002IS THE EXPERIENCE OFPOLICE OFFICERSVALUED?I have just read an article about the NZpolice recruiting staff from the UnitedKingdom. It states that they will haveto do a shortened ten-week course atthe Police College and then start workon the basic constable’s salary.I find it ironic that we can recruit nonswornstaff into senior managementpositions and pay them an exorbitantamount of money and use the excusethat they are experienced in their fieldsto justify it. Yet when it comes tofrontline staff, who apparently are themost important people within thepolice service, we don’t apply the sameargument.It appears that unless you have aglossy certificate on your wall then noamount of service within any policethroughout the world is worthanything. The New Zealand police havetaken it upon themselves to hirestrategic analysts and pay them$75,000 a year. Some of these peoplehave no experience of police work atall. I appreciate that they are animportant part of the way the policeservice is heading but surely whenrecruiting frontline staff we can use thesame argument.I remember a few years ago that wewere told raising the importance ofstaff at the sharp end, was a priority.The New Zealand Police by their actionsdo not appear to value the experienceof police officers. Perhaps this is thereason why so many of our experiencedstaff are still leaving disillusioned.Michael Cartwright, AucklandStaff Retention inAuckland/Sth AkldThis is about the three-ring circuscurrently being conducted in theAuckland & Counties/Manukau areas. I’vespent 16 years in Counties/Manukau as asworn officer, so I reckon I’ve earned theright to have my say.Staff in this region, are taken for grantedat every opportunity. Managementcontinually plays on our loyalty andgoodwill to keep this Districtfunctioning, albeit only just.I want to be clear - I’m not having a goat the staff who have come from otherDistricts, but the decision to pay cops anextra $70 - $80 a day to come and“make up the numbers” is a huge slapin-the-facefor Aucklander’s, stillexpected to do the very same job for thesame price. No extra benefits for us. Westill have to pay our heavy mortgages,over-inflated cost of living and deal withdaily stress inflicted on our families byan unforgiving work environment. Wedon’t get any extra cash - no it goes tosomeone else instead.So they will be clearing all of these extrafiles? SO WHAT!! Long after ourcolleagues have gone we will still havethe same problem - too many files andnot enough cops to deal with them. It isthe nature of the beast that is Auckland& Counties/Manukau. George Hawkinsshould know - he did enough whingingabout it, when he was in Opposition. Hisown electorate, Manurewa, is probablythe worst crime spot in the country.What I can’t understand is that it’s notgood enough to pay us an allowance forliving and working in Auckland, (whichhas in essence become “a hard to fill”area) yet they will fork out all thismoney to pay other cops to come workhere and fly them in from around thecountry. Gee, thanks - shows just howmuch you value us here in Auckland,obviously not much.I’m sorry, I sound like a grumpy oldcopper, but the way that this is beinghandled is disgusting. Whether you wantto believe it or not South Auckland staffare not happy and paying out-of-towncops an extra $500 to $600 a week to dothe same job only serves to lower moraleeven further.Time for management to come up with areal solution to the problem, otherwisethe drain on experienced cops from ourpatch is not going to stop.Steve Andersen, OtahuhuGod works inMysterious WaysI was on my usual Wednesday “loiteringwith intent” around the police station.I had stopped to prop up the doorarchway of Break Squad.We exchanged our usual forgettablepleasantries when I heard, “Elizabeth,I’ve a question I’ve been meaning toask you.”I froze, I quivered!! In that half secondI thought, I’ve cracked it!They do take me seriously! Thank you!!I put on my best pastoral face andapproached the officer gently (I’vegiven them name suppression).The eyes looked at me with totalconfidence and expectation. I felt quiteoverwhelmed. Then I heard, “Elizabeth,how do I get rid of stains? Look atthese. It’s one of my favouritesweaters.”Elizabeth Mansill, Chaplain, Waitakerep.s. I was able to answer thequestion. My advice was taken. Itworked. 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