Police News Mar 06.indd - New Zealand Police Association

The Voice of PoliceVOLUME 39 • NUMBER 2 • MARCH 2006The tragedythat is P TRANSNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKERS SEE NZ AS ‘EASY’ TARGET THE WEEK WE LOST TWO OF OUR BEST POLICE AND ASSOCIATION AT ODDS OVER SWORN RETIREMENT OPTIONS

PoliceNewsThe Voice of Police2925 YEARS YOUNG30THE WEEK WE LOST TWO OF OUR BESTNZ Police Association Police News is the magazine of theNew Zealand Police Association and incorporates the NewZealand Police Journal fi rst published in 1937.Editor: Steve PlowmanMarch 2006, Vol. 39, No.2ISSN 1175-9445Deadline for next issue Friday, March 17, 2006.Published by the New Zealand Police AssociationP.O. Box 12344, Willbank House, 57 Willis Street, Wgtn.Phone: (04) 496 6800, Facsmile: (04) 471 1309Email: editor@policeassn.org.nzWebsite: www.policeassn.org.nzPrinted by City Print Communications, Wgtn.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.ContentsFrom the President 27Police and Association at odds over sworn retirement options 27CIB survey update 28US cop recruited to UK police to resign over unarmed status 28RNZPC to celebrate 25th anniversary 29Obituaries – Paddy Darroch and John Hughes 30/32Health Watch 33Government to continue its commitment to Afghanistan 34Indonesian mega labs highlight co-operation between traffickers 36/38Are the new Organised Crime Units going to further deplete CIB? 3936COME LET ME LEAD YOU TO HELLWashington State shifts focus to meth users 40Methamphetamine overtakes cocaine as US’s biggest problem drug 41The real cost of methamphetamine 42Keen on Wine 43Holiday home availability chart 44View from the Bottom/Copper’s crossword/Memorial Wall 45Front page: Families against P – Gloria Taaka senior(left) and protest organiser Mary Cotter, carry thephotos of family members, who had died as a resultof P addiction, into Parliament grounds in the “No toP” march last month. There were emotional scenes asmarchers placed photos and lit candles at the foot offormer Premier, Dick Seddon’s statue.- Photo courtesy of The Dominion Post.Sports News 46/48Letters to the Editor 49/51Are the new Organised Crime Unitsgoing to further deplete an alreadystretched CIB? – page 3926March 2006

New Zealand Police Association“The issue is not only the dollar cost to thetaxpayer. It is more the desirability that thepublic do not receive any less of their usualservice as a result of the special event.”How many of you, like me, feel a taduncomfortable when you see securityguards at sports events manhandlingpitch invaders and other offenders, whohave criminal intent, using considerableamounts of unsanctioned ‘coercive force’ tooverpower and detain them?This was always a police function until,it appears without any strategic decision,Police virtually abandoned the policing ofpublic events.It happened of course, because of theunavailability of police officers who,because of staff shortages and increasedworkloads, could not be freed up for thesespecial operations.Now, with the exception of arrest groupsat events like the Wellington Sevens andbig football matches, the public don’t getto see police in what can be a very positiveinteraction.This contrasts with big public gatheringsand events in Australia, the United Kingdomand North America where there is inevitablya significant police presence. The differencethere is that the events do not impact onday-to-day policing because the eventorganisers pay most of the cost of havingpolice officers present. This is paid to theofficers through their departments. Theseofficers are usually working paid extraduties, often on their rostered days off.The issue is not only the dollar cost to thetaxpayer. It is more the desirability that thepublic do not receive any less of their usualservice as a result of the special event.The recent visit by Bill Clinton is a verygood case. Of course police should beprotecting a high profile ex-US President,just as we should be protecting a Swedishbackpacker. However, his visit was purelya moneymaking exercise for the groupbringing him to New Zealand, so it makessense that they should have contributed tothe cost of protecting him. That contributionshould then form part of the operationalbudget, whether six or 600 officers wererequired. It would not be markedly differentfrom our SAP funding arrangement withLand Transport New Zealand.Police are funded to protect official visitorsand dignitaries, so it would not impact onthat area.Failing to address this issue now will meanNZ Police will withdraw more and morefrom policing public events as our fundingbecomes more tagged and siloed. As moreorganisations spring up to fill the voidleft by public police, we risk the multijurisdictionalnightmare in policing that somany overseas countries face.So next time a rugby or cricket ground isinvaded, instead of the all in brawl whichseems to develop now, it would be nice tosee professional, constrained police officersnot only dealing with the individuals,but ensuring those watching understandthat such behaviour will result in arrest.Meanwhile, sections and others would notbe stripped of staff for the operationand would be able to continue witheveryday policing.Police and Association at odds over sworn retirement optionsBy Megan Wilson, AssociationIndustrial officerOn 15 November last year, Policeissued a written directive that effectivelystopped sworn members from receivingretirement benefits in accordance with GIL395, in circumstances where memberssought voluntary retirement. GI (GeneralInstruction) L395 provides members withspecific retirement leave entitlements.The Police Association does not accept theNZ Police view that sworn members donot have the right to voluntarily retire fromPolice and would like to hear from swornmembers who:• wish to retire;• have applied to retire but have had theirapplication turned down; or• intended to apply to retire but wereadvised that they couldn’t and asa consequence submitted theirresignation.We would also like to hear from formersworn members:• who applied to retire after 15 November2005 and whose application wasapproved.If you fall into one of the above categories,please contact your local Field Officer oralternatively you can contact me at theAssociation’s National Office in Wellington.(Editor’s note: Contact details for Nationaloffice etc are on the inside back page).Police state that as the GI L395 is premisedon “members retiring in accordance with therequirements of the Police Act 1958” thatlimited the entitlement to those who retiredon medical grounds under section 28 orvoluntarily or compulsorily disengaged undersections 28C or 28D of the Police Act.This is despite Police previously acceptingvoluntary retirement applications up untilNovember 2005. The police response to thepast practice is that they were mistaken as to amember’s entitlement when a sworn membersought to retire voluntarily.The Association does not accept this view. Itis our view, that sworn members with at least8 years service areentitled to retire andreceive retirementleave.Unfortunately, thisissue has not beenable to be resolvedand to date has beenstymied by delays in Police respondingto Official Information Act requests. As aconsequence, the Association is to initiateformal dispute proceedings in order toclarify the issues in dispute.Commission of Inquiryreport date extendedThe report date for the Commission ofInquiry into Police Conduct has beenextended from 3 March to 31 May 2006due to the volume of submissions received.Internal Affairs Minister, Rick Barker, saidthe Commission had sought and beengranted the extension of time.March 200627

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceCIB survey updateBy Anna Duncan, Association PolicyAdvisor/AnalystAs noted in the December issue of PoliceNews, the New Zealand Police Associationhas become increasingly aware ofproblems facing the CIB, particularly inthe Auckland Metro Districts.The Association conducted an in-depthsurvey of the Auckland Metro DistrictsCIB in November 2005 to better informus about training, resource and workloadissues - from the perspective of officersworking at the coalface.The Association received an outstandingresponse to the survey, with an 80%participation level.Broader strategyThe CIB survey forms part of theAssociation’s broader strategy to ensure thatwe are well informed on members’ issuesand understand the background to emergingproblems affecting police officers and theirwork. The survey has produced a wealthof valuable data, with many respondentscommenting at length on problems facingthe CIB, and suggesting potential solutions.Survey results will be made available toPolice as part of the Association’s goal torectify problems facing the CIB - beforeaction is necessitated by an inevitably highlypublicised system failure. The Associationwill also publish results from the survey inPolice News in the coming months.The Association is mindful that many ofthe issues identified in the CIB survey arenot Auckland specific and also affect otherCIB’s around the country. If necessary,the Association will replicate the surveyin other districts soon.First foreigner recruited to UK police threatensto resign in protest at UK cops unarmed statusA former Texas police officer, Ben Johnson, celebrated three years ago asthe first foreigner to become a British police officer, has caused a storm ofcontroversy in the UK by threatening to resign as a protest over UK policeofficers unarmed status.Mr Johnson, 34, told the Dallas News that the increasing risk of encountering agunman, who could render his 18-month-old daughter fatherless, has causedthe former Garland (Texas) officer to reconsider his work.Mr Johnson, a 6’ 4” (1.83m) former paratrooper nicknamed Slim, wrote to theChief Constable at the Thames Valley Police asking to carry a Glock 17 handgunon his routine beat in Reading.His stand caused a media frenzy just prior to Christmas because of his havingthe unique perspective of having fought crimes on both sides of the Atlantic.Family concerns“I have to think of more than just myself now,” he said. “Now that I’m a father,and I have a young daughter, it’s even more important that I receive the propertraining and equipment. I’m not afraid to be a police officer. I’m just moreacutely aware of the fact that training and arms should be integral to that job,”he added.Mr Johnson’s complaint goes to the heart of a national debate about the extentto which gun control laws and restraints on the ability of police to respond havegiven criminals the upper hand. Only in rare instances are civilians permitted toown firearms, and 90% of British police carry out their duties unarmed.A Thames Valley Police spokesman told the Sunday Times newspaper: “Theseare his personal views, and he did not discuss them with anyone before goingto the press.”Johnson’s remarks came shortly after the death of Sharon Beshenivsky, a policeofficer and mother of three children, who was shot late last year while respondingto a burglar-alarm call in Bradford. Mr Johnson cited her death – particularly thefact that she had no weapon and apparently lacked proper training in respondingto a break-in – as major factors influencing his intended resignation.Criticism“What we have is a chief constable; who will never respond to an emergencycall; who will never be in harm’s way, has authorised himself to carry a firearmand yet he doesn’t authorise his police officers, who on a daily basis ... facedanger. It’s a bizarre situation,” he said.Johnson, who carried a Glock 22 pistol while on duty in Garland, says thatpolicing is more dangerous in Britain.Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, said 90% of British police areunarmed, and he has no intention of changing the policy.The Police Federation conducted a survey three years ago, in which 80% ofrespondents opposed carrying weapons on the beat. A similar survey conductedby the New Zealand Police Association in September last year found that 69%of police officers were opposed to mandatory arming.But the Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears, told the BBC: “I do think that theresilience of the police officers, in terms of having enough firearms officers,is extremely questionable at the moment, and that will need to be properlydebated.”Unarmed reputationIn Garland, Texas, Britain’s reputation for sending its officers out on the streetsunarmed is “something of which most of us are aware,” said Greg Conley,the Assistant Police Chief. “That’s certainly a huge national debate here,but obviously, American policing is different.” He declined to go beyond thecomments offered by Mr Johnson but described him as “an excellent officer,and we were sorry to see him go.”Thames Valley Police were, at time of writing, understood to be negotiating toget Mr Johnson to stay, but a change in the gun rule is unlikely.Britain’s overall crime rate has dropped sharply over the past decade, althoughofficial statistics show that violent crime – in which weapons are most likely tohave been used – is the only category on the rise. For 2004-05, violent crimeinvolving injury to the victim was up by eight percent from the previous year.“It wasn’t my intention to come over here and change the way things aredone,” Mr. Johnson said, noting his respect for Britain’s long-standing guncontrollaws and police procedures that emphasize restraint and reason overbrute force.Power balanceThat equation, however, leaves the option of brute force in the hands of thecriminal and reduces the response options for police, he said, adding: “I hadthought the British police would be trained and equipped to match the level offorce that they would be up against. That’s not the reality.”“I knew I was coming into an unarmed police force…in all honesty, statistically,the chances of a British police officer encountering someone armed on thestreets are less than in the States. That’s an absolute fact,” Mr Johnsonexplained. “But the risk still exists. I think the answer is to equip and train themto deal with any threat level that may come their way.”Mr Johnson described some procedures as lax and a danger to public security.In one case, Mr Johnson said, he was forced to allow a wanted, attemptedmurdersuspect to escape because his superiors would not let him, as anunarmed officer, arrest a potentially armed suspect. The offender subsequentlyescaped while Mr Johnson awaited the arrival of armed officers. It took policetwo days to apprehend the offender.Although overall per-capita gun crime is lower in Britain than in the U.S.A, Britishcriminals seem far bolder and less fearful of confrontation, injury or punishment,Mr Johnson said. He attributed it to the fact that Americans are permitted toguard their homes with guns – and would-be burglars know it.Without the deterrent effect of a homeowner’s gun, he added, “there’s not thatthreat to burglars, so we have a much higher rate of home break-ins [with theoccupants present].”28March 2006

New Zealand Police Association• The Royal New Zealand Police College at Porirua.RNZPC 25th anniversary to be held on 1 AprilThe 25th anniversary of the Royal NewZealand Police College will be celebratedat its Porirua site on 1 April and a numberof events have been planned to mark themilestone.The RNZPC was opened by HRH Prince ofWales on 1 April 1981. Before that the PoliceCollege was based at Trentham MilitaryCamp and has had several other homes overNew Zealand Police’s 120-year history.RNZPC Training Commander SuperintendentAlistair (Olly) Beckett said interestin the anniversary is high. “All sworn staffwho have joined Police in the past 25 yearshave trained here and there are a largenumber of former and current training staffwith close ties to the college,” Mr Beckett said.The anniversary events include:• A formal dinner for all serving andformer police staff, sworn and non-sworn,regardless of whether you have ever workedat the Police College, to be held on theevening of Thursday, 30 March. Partnersare welcome. Tickets: $45 per person.• A 'mix and mingle' for staff and formerstaff of the RNZPC and the Police Collegein Trentham to be held on the evening ofFriday, 31 March. Tickets: $15 per person.• A public Open Day to be held onSaturday, 1 April to showcase the RNZPCand a wide range of Police activities.Tickets can be purchased by contacting: PaulMears on (04) 238 3237, ext 43237 or byEmail: paul.mears@police.govt.nz or KayDouglas on (04) 238 3126, ext 43126 orby Email: kay.douglas@police.govt.nzCan you help?Do you have photographs or video footagefrom your time at Trentham or the RNZPCfor possible use in a display or publicationfor the anniversary?Photographs can be sent by Email or,alternatively, hard copies will be scannedand returned. Do you have any items thatyou feel would add value to a combinedPolice Museum/RNZPC showcase display?If you have, please contact Claire Bibbyon 04 238 3128, ext 43128, or by Email:claire.bibby@police.govt.nzMore details about the anniversarycelebrations are available through the PoliceIntranet.March 200629

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceObituary:On a Wellington morning, as warm as Paddy Darroch himself, police from around the country gatheredto honour one of NZ Police’s favourite sons. The capital saw one of its largest funerals for the man whohad touched so many lives with his good grace and humour, qualities, which endeared him to all whomet him. The funeral mass, celebrated at St Mary’s of the Angels’ Church in Wellington was attended by no lessthan 15 Catholic priests – a rare mark of honour and support for the Darroch family, amongst whom was chiefcelebrant Paul Darroch, Paddy’s brother. The tears and laughter flowed in a true celebration of a life well lived.This was not a funeral for a good man, but for a great man – a man who had the common touch, a man whotouched other people’s lives in so many ways. His police colleagues from Wellington Central especially, wherehe was a sergeant working in the Prosecutions section, rubbed shoulders with politicians, top police officers,retired police, judges, lawyers, members of the Wellington rugby community, and family and friends in a movingceremony that was a fitting farewell for a much-loved man. In one of several lighter moments, Father Darrochtold mourners that it had taken the Catholic Church only a week to find a new Pope but it was apparently goingto take the New Zealand Police six months to find a new Commissioner.Patrick (Paddy) Francis Gerard Darroch (1945-2006)Wellington Central’s intercom is strangelyquiet these days. The familiar “SergeantPaddy Darroch, your 10 o’clock appointmentis here...” – or any other time between eightand five – no longer echoes around thebuilding.The popular diversion sergeant – friendto many both in and out of the job – diedsuddenly on 26 January, two months afterbeing diagnosed with a form of leukaemia.Sixty-year-old Paddy died just one dayafter clocking up 40 years in the police,25 of which was spent in Prosecutions. AWellingtonian born and bred, his wife andchildhood sweetheart Beth, son Sean anddaughter Rachael survive him.Educated at St Patrick’s College in Kilbirnie,Paddy joined the police in 1966 and spent allhis service in Wellington – on the beat, in theformer Taranaki Street inquiry office, and ongeneral duties in Kilbirnie and Central beforeswitching to prosecutions. Never short of aword, Paddy loved the cut and thrust of thecourtroom and prosecuting became his forte.PromotionPromoted to senior sergeant, his dutiesincluded working as a welfare officer,sectional and control senior before revertingin rank to sergeant so he could return toProsecutions and make his mark as thediversions sergeant.Love for his family and friends, his strongCatholic faith, his humour, empathy and beliefin bringing out the best in people epitomisedPaddy the husband, father, grandfather,policeman and friend. If you spent a fewminutes in Paddy’s company his love for Bethand his family soon became evident.More than 1400 people packed St Mary ofthe Angel’s Church in central Wellingtonfor Paddy’s funeral. Such was his standingamongst the judiciary that the courts did notsit until the afternoon session.The son of a publican, the Darroch familyjoked that it was Paddy’s dad, Jim’s job toget people into trouble (he was a well-knownproprietor of Barrett’s Hotel), Paddy’s jobto arrest them and for his brother Paul, aCatholic priest, to forgive them.Paul, who led the funeral service, latercommented that Paddy heard more confessionsas a diversions sergeant than he did as a priest.Larger-than-lifeStories abound about the larger-than-lifepoliceman who commanded the respect ofcolleagues and offenders alike. Longtimefriend and colleague, Inspector Greg Gilpinsaid that Paddy was firm but fair but didn’ttake any rubbish from offenders.Gilpin and Darroch had daily contact with each– their friendship beginning as new constableswhen they met at the Holland House barracks.They also shared a love of rugby – Paddy hadbeen a promising number eight in his time,playing for Marist, lower grade rep rugby forWellington and for police teams.• Paddy Darroch.As young cops both Paddy and Greg were onthe beach at Seatoun helping rescue survivorsfrom the stricken interisland ferry Wahine.“I can remember us looking at one anotherand asking if this was really happening,”Greg recalls. “It seemed inconceivable thatsuch a new ship could founder in WellingtonHarbour.”He says a ‘dear fatty’ letter rekindled Paddy’sfitness levels. Paddy and colleague JohnThurston both took to the streets and enteredthe Rotorua marathon, as a bit of a dare.Running featsMuch to Paddy’s delight he beat John homeand with a group of other colleagues includingthe likes of Tim Marsters, Pete Thompson,30March 2006

New Zealand Police Association• Wellington Central’s flag flies at half mastas a mark of respect for a great bloke,Paddy Darroch.Paul Millar, Peter Roose, Graham Sawyer andJoe Franklin, he went on to run in many moremarathons and harrier events.In later years, he walked daily over Mt Victoria,to and from his home in Kilbirnie to WellingtonCentral.In another moment of friendly rivalry, Paddytook on the slimmer Peter Loveridge over400 metres at Newtown Park – for a $5 bet– and despite appalling weather conditionsand Loveridge being a firm favourite to win,Paddy came out in front in a respectable 69.3seconds. Despite his size, Paddy still had agood deal of pace, no doubt a reflection of hisdays as a talented rugby player at St Pat’s.“Paddy loved to talk,” said Greg. “He wasgenuinely interested in everyone and alwayshad time for people.“He gave first time offenders a chance, but ifthey didn’t fulfil their diversion obligations hewas straight onto them in sorting them out.“Many of those he helped were presentat his funeral. Gang members and theirfamilies were among those who sent theircondolences.”Practical jokesFond of playing jokes, Paddy sometimes foundhimself on the receiving end of a prank or two.Great was his consternation when the sofa,positioned in the hallway outside his office,disappeared overnight and was replaced by anew model made entirely of cardboard boxes.In true police style, Paddy launched an inquiry.Weeks passed but no one ‘fessed up’. It wassome time before the sofa was spirited back• Wellington police colleagues lined the steps of St Mary’s of Angels as the Paddy’s coffin wascarried out of the church.into position and Paddy’s diversion visitorscould once again wait in comfort!He was a great believer in the merits ofdiversion. “Diversion gives them anotherchance and nearly all of them take thatchance,” he once said in an interview shortlyafter receiving his 35-year badge.Paddy’s death has affected all his colleagues,particularly those working in WellingtonCentral. He will be greatly missed - but notforgotten.-Sources: Inspector Greg Gilpin, TheDominion-Post library, Steve Plowman andKaye Calder.March 200631

PoliceNewsObituary:The Voice of PoliceJohn Rex Hughes (1933-2006)There’s an old saying that they breed themtough in Taranaki – and Detective InspectorJohn Rex Hughes (QPM), born in Hawera in1933, was no exception.Hughes was greatly respected by Policecolleagues throughout New Zealand as atough cop who got the job done. He was bornto be a detective.Auckland’s criminal fraternity both loathedand respected him – no doubt because of hispenchant for doggedly tracking them down.John died of cancer in Auckland on 1February, aged 73, after a short illness.John’s life was celebrated at the Holy TrinityCathedral in Parnell by a large gathering offamily, friends, politicians, lawyers, judges,prosecutors, colleagues – and even the oddcriminal whose collar he had felt during his33-year career as a police officer.And what a life it was.Extraordinary police officerHe was an extraordinary police officer in everysense of the word. His lengthy police careerwas marked by a determined focus on gettingthe job done – a trait which he brought tocross-country and ultra distance running andearlier to a distinguished boxing career. Hewas highly successful at both sports. As aboxer he fought 142 times as an amateurand captured the NZ middleweight title threetimes between 1955-57, when boxing wasextremely popular. He took up running in 1981and at the age of 48 sliced a massive one anda half days off the Sydney-to-Melbourne roadrace record (875 kilometres). He ran in theevent three times. In the 1970’s he ran the420-mile seven-day Auckland to Wellingtonroad race and gave the tireless and legendarySiegfried Bauer some serious competition.In 1976 he was named New Zealand PoliceSportsperson of the Year. He was responsiblefor encouraging, humouring, bullying andcajoling scores of police officers to getinvolved with running and to this day manywill have cause to thank him for the benefitsrunning has brought them.DeterminationHe carried that sporting determination intohis police work and it paid dividends on majorinvestigations such as the famed Bassett Roadmachine gun murder case of the early 1960’sand Operation Stockholm - the hunt for thekiller of Swedish tourists Urban Hoglin andHeidi Paakkonen in 1989 – both resulted insuccessful convictions. He and his team alsoinvestigated the savage point blank shootingof motelier Rex Bell in Northcote – two menwere convicted.He worked on more than 40 other murderinvestigations and his perfectionist tendenciesand ruthless pursuit of those responsiblegained him a reputation as a second-to-noneinvestigator.• Detective Inspector John Hughes – theconsummate investigator.Suspects were said to fear being taken to the6 th floor of Auckland Central Police Station– known as “John’s floor” – because theyknew they would be in for a grilling fromHughes.John was a reluctant retiree from Police in1993. It was hardly surprising. He had giventhe best years of his life to policing and he hadmade many lifelong friends in the process.He was a positive individual who lived by thesaying: “Look sharp, act sharp, be sharp.”Joined in 1959John joined the police in 1959 in Aucklandand although he was a Detective Sergeantin Hamilton in the 1960’s, he returned toAuckland as a Detective Senior Sergeantafter a few years and was subsequentlypromoted to the rank of Detective Inspectorin 1985. Auckland CIB staff will always fondlyremember him.John Hughes had considerable guile as aninvestigator and his wily approach to dealingwith criminals was aptly demonstrated in oneincident at a Vulcan Lane bar. A notoriousAuckland criminal was a regular there. He wasinvariably cocky and had a real attitude butwas somewhat cocooned by his counterparts.One afternoon there were a series of unrelatedarrests throughout the Auckland area withconsiderable publicity ensued. That evening- as predicted - the cocky individual was againin Vulcan Lane with his cohorts. He was quitesmug. John Hughes went right up to the group- approached the criminal - and producedabout $50 - which was a large amount ofmoney in those days. He gave it to the manand thanked him profusely for the informationhe provided that day. Then John and his teamleft. Police weren’t too sure what became ofthe crim but suffice to say he left Auckland ina hurry shortly afterward.AOS involvementJohn was a founding member of the ArmedOffender’s Squad (AOS) in 1963 - servingboth in Hamilton and Auckland. He andhis investigation teams were credited withcleaning up serious crime within the AucklandCity area, coinciding with the emergence ofteam policing units.Hughes was a patron of the March 1994recruit wing that graduated from the Royal NewZealand Police College and considered it agreat honour – as he did the receipt of the QSM(Queen’s Service Medal) for services to Police.For all his toughness, John also had a caring,nurturing and compassionate side.But the most important aspect of John’s lifewas his family - far above policing and farabove his sport. He was extremely proud ofhis family and often regaled colleagues withupdates about the lives of his children Michele,Craig and Joanne, and his grandchildren.John Hughes was a man who got the jobdone. He had an amazing work ethic andearned the respect of his colleagues for thesheer determination and zeal he brought tohis work – and his life. He was a man whogot results while at the same time taking timeto mentor others. He was a man for whomothers, as it was said in one eulogy, “wouldwillingly walk over broken glass”. And suchis the legacy he leaves for all those fortunateenough to have known him.His wife Mavis, his daughters Michele andJoanne and son Craig survive John.- Steve Plowman and AssistantCommissioner Peter Marshall.32March 2006

New Zealand Police AssociationPolice Health Plan Ltd in conjunction withour Medical Advisors, Medilink, publishesarticles on medical issues that affect ourmembers.The complex worldof the eyeHuman external interaction is greatly governedby two of our seven senses – sight and sound.The eyes are like a camera, which takes constantsnap-shots of our environment, thereby allowing usto define where we are, and helping us go aboutour daily activities.The eye is a complicated organ. It consists ofthree layers:-• The tough outer layer or sclerotic coat is the“white” of the eye, except in the front wherethe transparent cornea admits light to a focalpoint. It is protected from dust and kept moistby tears.• The middle layer or choriod coat is pigmented.The iris is part of this coat, which determinesour eye colour. The opening in the centre ofthe iris is the pupil, which filters light to theretina. The pupil functions like the shutter of acamera.• The retina is the innermost layer and consists ofseven layers of cells. This paper thin “screen”contains the light receptors, photoreceptors,cones and rods coupled with an intricate nervesupply. Together they form images. The conesand rods are not evenly distributed through theretina. The cones respond to bright light, anddetermine colour and fine detail. The rods aregreater in number. They respond to dim light,determining black, white and peripheral vision.The macula is in the centre of the retina. Thegreatest collection of cones is in the macula,giving sharp, clear vision straight ahead.The eye is filled with a jelly-like substance calledvitreous humour, which is essentially watercontaining a small solid component of collagenand other molecules. The viscosity is two to fourtimes that of water.There’s a spectrum of diseases, which may affectthe eye, ranging from infections and mechanicalfailings to blindness.Eye floatersFloaters are dark specks, strands or webs thatdrift through your visual field when you look ata light colour, white paper or a light sky. Floatersincrease in number with age as the vitreoushumour shrinks. Time causes the vitreous humourto liquefy and the vitreous collagen to condense,forming clumps of gel. These clumps are “seen”as floaters. They generally drift down graduallyand settle out of the visual field. Floaters are partof the ageing process but can occur at a youngage. If your floaters noticeably increase in numberor are accompanied by flashing lights you shouldseek professional advice.CataractsHidden behind the iris and the pupil of the eyeis the lens. This is a clear capsule of water andprotein that focuses light on the retina to createan image.Cataracts form when the lens clouds becausethe protein clumps together. Conditions suchas cataracts are not transferred betweeneyes and may develop in one eye only.Traumatic injury, certain medications, diabetes,smoking, ultra violet light and heavy drinkingare some of the many causes. Diet may be acontributing factor.Cataract development rates vary from individualto individual. If you notice increased glare in thesunlight or from vehicle headlights while driving atnight, colours losing their sharpness or blurring ofimages, you should seek professional assistancefrom your optician or ophthalmologistMacular DegenerationAge-related macular degeneration (ARMD) isa degenerative disease of the eye affectingthe central macula layer of tissue in the retina.Deterioration is painless, and may result in lossof central vision, though peripheral vision remainsto some degree.The cases are not fully understood, but triggersmay be genetic, age-related, or due to certainmedications, hypertension, smoking and obesity.There is on-going research into whether there is acorrelation between diet and ARMD.There are two recorded types of ARMD, dry andwet.Dry (atrophic) is due to ageing/degeneration of theretina. As the tissue thins, deposits of pigmenteddebris collect in the retina. They scatter underthe macula gradually distorting the centralvision. The cause of the pigment collection is notentirely understood but its thought to be related tometabolism or poor circulation.Wet (neovascular) macular degeneration is causedwhen the blood vessels from the choroid layerdeteriorate with age, and new vessels develop torepair the circulation. These vessels are immatureand frail and rupture easily. The rupture leads tobleeding, that leaks through the tissue layers andmay permanently damage the photoreceptor cells.This is a less common form of ARMD but is moreaggressive. The rate of progression and extentof visual loss varies from individual to individual.ARMD is characterised by shadowed fuzzycentral vision. Straight lines, like your viewof a power pole, become distorted. If younotice any of these symptoms, assessment byyour optician or ophthalmologist is essential.If you require assistance and/or additionalinformation please Email: helenb@medilink.co.nzoliver@medilink.co.nz© Medilink Limited 2005Seven-year-old decides it’s time to get his licenceEager to get his driver’s licence, aseven-year-old boy in Shelbyville,Tennessee (USA) put on his seat belt andremembered to use his turn signal, as hetook his parent’s pickup truck out for aspin, leading police on a slow pursuitaround town.Officers initially thought they werechasing a drunk driver.“He was weaving all over the road. Hecouldn’t stay in his lane,” Officer JoshLaverette told Associated Press.What they found instead was a barelyfour-foot-tall second-grader.Vertically challenged“He was so short he had to sit up closeto the steering wheel,” Laverette said.“Whenever he’d brake, he would pickhimself up with his left foot and stomp onthe brake with his right.”The boy narrowly avoided several collisions.“It could have been very serious,” Laverettesaid.The seven-mile chase ended when the boydrove home and parked. The boy said thatthe reason he took the vehicle was becausehe wanted to get his licence.Nine years too early to take the test, the boywas charged with driving without a licence,eluding police and leaving the scene of anaccident.A witness said: “It blew my mind, becausewe actually watched him put on his turnsignal and turn. And we could see whenhe went past that he had a seat belt on,”she said. “Then to come find out it was achild, I was really shocked,” she added.Have you moved recently?If you have or perhaps you’re about to, pleaselet us know so we can update your records.You can do this by:• writing to us at PO Box 12-344;• calling on freephone 0800 500 122;• faxing us on (04) 496 6819; or• Emailing us at: membership@policeassn.org.nz.You need to let us know your membershipnumber, new address and if you’re a servingmember - your new station.March 200633

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceGovernment firmon continuingits commitmentto AfghanistanNew Zealand is almost certain to continue its commitment inAfghanistan along current levels.Defence Minister Phil Goff told an international conferenceon Afghanistan in London recently that Cabinet was lookingat a “positive continuation” of its current commitment inAfghanistan.Cabinet was due to consider the matter as this issue was goingto press.While a major increase in the level of military personnel has beenruled out, Mr Goff said New Zealand’s contribution to Afghanistan“remains a significant element in our long-term commitment tobuilding a more secure international environment”.As well as Defence Force and SAS (Special Air Services) personnel,New Zealand has three police officers in Bamyan province,leading the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamyan,which involves the training of police officers.In response to United Nations Security Council resolutions (in2001), New Zealand was one of the first countries to send militaryforces to Afghanistan as part of the international campaign againstterrorism.NZ personnel“Four years later, hundreds of our Defence Force personnel haveserved in Afghanistan and over $130 million has been investedin military and development assistance. New Zealand remainscommitted to assisting Afghanistan to meet its developmentneeds and ensure that its security contributes to the stability ofthe wider international community,” Mr Goff said.Mr Goff told Police News that Afghanistan had come a long way ina short time. “Successful presidential and parliamentary elections• Defence Minister Phil Goff.were important milestones, but significant challenges remain.There is still a need to improve the security situation, build stronginstitutions, implement development projects and deal withunemployment, narcotics and corruption,” he said.“The international community must continue to help the Afghangovernment and people overcome these challenges,” he added.Reconstruction workMr Goff alluded to recent reconstruction work, which includedrehabilitation and provision of roads and bridges, and constructionof district police stations and provision of police vehicles. He saidthat these projects contribute to long-term stability and futuregrowth.“New Zealand police are training and mentoring Afghan policeofficers in Bamyan, as an effective police force is critical to restoringlaw and order, protecting human rights and maintaining security,”he said.“New Zealand commits itself to continuing to work withAfghanistan to create a safe and secure country and meet itsongoing development needs,” Mr Goff said.Doug and Archie get their dinghyKatikati-based Senior Constable Archie Granthad a call recently from a concerned memberof the public, who had reported seeing an empty• Senior Constable Dough Henry shows his prowess with the oars.- Photo courtesy of the Katikati Advertiseraluminium dinghy floating merrily on its way downthe river towards the sea. The boat, complete witha Seagull motor, contained fishing rods and oars.Initially, there was somefear that the occupant oroccupants may have beenthrown out of the boat andbeen in danger of drowningbut this proved not to be thecase.Senior Constable DougHenry, a Highway PatrolOfficer, who had made abrief stop at the stationin his round of duties,joined Archie in his effortsto retrieve the craft. Theyfound the dinghy entangledin low-lying tree brancheshanging over the riverbank.Recovery operationThe two officers roped the dinghy in andDoug decided to row it to the nearest jetty butunbeknown to him, Archie had rung the reporterfrom the Katikati Advertiser about the incident.She duly arrived, camera in hand, in the obvioushope that Doug might end up in the drink whilegetting out of the dinghy – and thereby provideher with a possible award-winning photo.It was reported in Katikati that this might well havebeen the case had a CPNZ (Community Patrolsof New Zealand) volunteer’s granddaughter notbeen there to lend a hand as Doug attempted toalight from the boat to the jetty - as the dinghywas evidently intent on heading in the oppositedirection!Police News sources confirm that Doug did asterling job all round in the rowing department.Such was his prowess with the oars that therewere even good natured suggestions that he mayhave missed his calling in life and should be tryingout for the NZ eights rowing squad.34March 2006

New vehicle aneye-openerGwinnett Sheriff, Butch Conway, has receiveda new vehicle that makes the biggest, baddestHumvee look wimpish, according to a recentreport in the Gwinnett News, a Georgia, USAbasednewspaper.Conways’s new vehicle is camouflagecoloured,with a 283 cubic inch V-8, a topspeed of 40 mph and a 110-gallon gas tank. Itgets about three miles to a gallon.Original equipment included one .50-calibremachine gun, a 7.62 mm machine gun andinfrared night vision capability. It seats fourand weighs 15,093 pounds (6,846 kilograms)- and it floats. (The .50-calibre gun has beenreplaced with a nonfiring replica.)Full restoredThe vehicle is a fully restored 1965 M1 14armoured command and reconnaissancevehicle built by Cadillac.Its former owner, Ben Cowart II of Norcross,has donated it to the Sheriff’s Department foruse in tactical situations such as officer rescuesand to provide ‘go-anywhere’ capability duringnatural disasters.“I’ve had a lot of fun with it. I think everybodyshould have a tank at least once,” Cowartsaid.Cowart, 40, is a developer by trade, butbranched into the military vehicle businesstwo years ago when he had the chance topurchase surplus Humvees.Company formedAll of a sudden Cowart was running MilitaryVehicle Specialties, which restores andcustomizes Humvees.About a year ago, a customer swapped the M114 for one of the Humvees. The big vehicle isfully restored, right down to the 1st CavalryDivision markings.“It’s a good piece of equipment,” SheriffConway told the newspaper. “It can be usedby us, the Police Department or the FireDepartment.”New Zealand Police Association• NOT TO BE MESSED WITH: The M1 14 armoured command and reconnaisance vehiclemanufactured by Cadillac.- Photo courtesy of Eaglhorse.comMore creative answers from S.A.T studentsYou’ll remember that in the December issue of Police News we brought you some rather creative SAT(Scholastic Aptitude Tests) answers from a group of 16-year-old students in South Africa. Here’s afew more from the same questionnaire. You have to admit that despite not being in the mark-scoringcategory they do have a certain cleverness about them all the same:Q: Name a major disease associated withcigarettes.A: Premature death.Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?A: Keep it in the cow.Q: How are the main parts of the bodycategorized? (e.g. abdomen).A: The body is consisted into three parts - thebrainium, the borax and the abdominalcavity. The brainium contains the brain, theborax contains the heart and lungs and theabdominal cavity contains the five bowels,A, E, I, O and U.Q: What is the Fibula?A: A small lie.Q: What does “varicose” mean?A: Nearby.Q: What is the most common form of birthcontrol?A: Most people prevent contraption by wearing acondominium.Q. Give the meaning of the term “CaesarianSection”A. The caesarian section is a district in Rome.Q: What is a seizure?A: A Roman Emperor.Q: What happens to a boy when he reachespuberty?A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looksforward to adultery.Q: What is a terminal illness?A: When you are sick at the airport.Q: Give an example of a fungus. What is acharacteristic feature?A: Mushrooms. They always grow in dampplaces and so they look like umbrellas.Q: What does the word “benign” mean?A: Benign is what you will be after you beeight.Q: What is a turbine?A: Something an Arab wears on his head.“When constabulary duty’s to be done, the policeman’s lot is not a happy one.”- Sir W. S. Gilbert (1836-1911).“I want to see you shoot the way you shout.”- Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt (1858-1919).“If quitters never win and winners never quit…what fool came up with:‘Quit while you’re ahead’.”- Anonymous.Were you in the 12thDobbs Wing?The12th Dobbs Recruit Wing entered the NZPolice College at Trentham Camp on the 7th ofSeptember 1959, and if there is sufficient interestfrom members of that wing in a reunion, one willbe held in Christchurch in the near future.Would interested members please advise eitherof the following people if they wish to be part of areunion: Graeme Pierson, 17 Arncliff Street,Christchurch; Email: og.pierson@xtra.co.nz orGraham Goodall, 44 Blue Gum Place, Christchurch;Email: graham.goodall@xtra.co.nzMarch 200635

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceNew Zealandseen as a‘soft’market bytransnationalcrime syndicates• Rock crystal meth and meth pipe.Indonesian mega labs highlightco-operation between drug traffickersBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsThe discovery of two methamphetaminemanufacturingplants in Indonesia, recently, hashighlighted the sophisticated co-operation betweeninternational drug traffickers and the risk theseoperations pose to New Zealand - as vast quantitiesof the drug flood the market.Similar ‘super labs’ have also beendiscovered in Fiji, the Phillipines andMalaysia of recent times. The product fromthe Fiji lab was destined for the USA, Australia andNew Zealand, according to American officials.When Indonesian police arrested 12 people ata huge drug-manufacturing factory in Serangrecently, 45 kilometres from the Indonesia capitalof Jakarta, they found locals, Dutch, French andHong Kong nationals, Taiwanese, and meth cooksfrom mainland China.A NZ Police drug intelligence officer, who viewedthe lab, told Police News that the sophisticatedoperation, which he termed a “mega lab”, had100 kilograms of crystal meth (“ice”) drying when he was there. Shortlyafterward, Indonesian police discovered an even bigger operation with 200kilograms of product ready for distribution as well as large quantities ofMDMA (Ecstacy). Meth is known as shabu shabu in Indonesia.“Say if we were looking ata seizure rate as high as20% – and I tend to thinkthat’s probably way overthe top – and that’s onefifthof what is coming intothe country, then we reallyhave some issues.”- Detective Inspector Don Allan,NZ Police O/C National Bureau ofCriminal Intelligence.“On our backdoor step”Early indications are that the labs were producing drugs for theAmerican and Australian markets. The intelligence officer said that someof the product could have been headed for New Zealand, given that itwas “virtually on our backdoor step”.Customs officials have told Police News that New Zealand’s sub-culturewas seen by international drug cartels as a growing drug marketand a recent United Nations Drug Report bore this out – listing NewZealand behind only Thailand and Australia in terms of the usage ofamphetamines (speed, methamphetamine and Ecstacy).Transnational crime syndicates from Asia, EasternEurope, Africa, Malaysia, Israel, mainland Chinaand the Middle East see New Zealand as a ‘softtouch’ in that drug penalties here are more lenientthan in their home countries – where traffickersface life imprisonment or the death penalty. Eightypercent of the largest drug seizures last yearwere the domain of organised transnational crimegangs.Recently, three Sydney residents were chargedwith allegedly attempting to import half akilogramn of liquid cocaine concealed in perfumebottles into New Zealand. The bottles werediscovered at Auckland International Airport asa result of a joint Customs and Auckland Police Drug Squad operation.Police News understands two of those arrested were brothers fromColombia. All three face charges of importing a Class A controlled drug,possession of a Class A controlled drug for supply and attempting to36March 2006

New Zealand Police Associationexport a Class A controlled drug. Four years ago, border seizures ofcocaine were virtually unheard of – Customs seizing just four grams in2001 - by 2004 that had risen dramatically to a record 17.64 kilograms.Last year seven kilograms were seized.New Zealand Customs Service Manager for Drug Investigations, SimonWilliamson, said the cocaine was probably destined for Australia. “Thislatest interception proves that New Zealand continues to be used asa stop over/transit point for cocaine shipments destined for Australia.Drug trafficking syndicates are continually evolving more and moresophisticated methods to evade detection for drug shipments, and thisis yet another example of this,” said Mr Williamson.SuccessesPolice and Customs thwarted a large-scale importation of ephedrinefrom Mainland China in March 2004. An Asian syndicate wasattempting to import a tonne of ephedrine, capable of making 700kilograms of meth.Indonesian police said the cartel running the meth factory in Serang wasproducing up to one million pills/tablets a week. Police estimated thatthe factory could output meth with a street value of $600 million a year.The plant was registered as a cable factory and covered an area of fourhectares. Indonesian Police Chief, General Sutanto, said that the levelof production at the lab made it the third largest Ecstasy manufacturingoperation ever discovered. Police had seized 62.4 tonnes of precursors formaking methamphetamine and 6.7 tonnes for making Ecstasy.Police also seized 150 kg (330 pounds) of ready-to-use crystalmethamphetamines. Samples had already been sent to buyers in HongKong.The discovery of the lab has further highlighted the sophisticated natureof international drug cartels, which are mirroring the cross-agencyapproach taken by law enforcement agencies in their war on drugs.Detective Inspector Don Allan, O/C National Bureau of CriminalIntelligence for the NZ Police, told Police News that there was evidencethat international crime syndicates were working with organised crimegangs, OMCGs (Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs) and ethnic gangs to furthertheir distribution networks in New Zealand. Estimates of the drug tradein this industry put it at a $1 billion industry. By comparison, the annualPolice budget for last year was set at $943.8 million.Deal with anyoneUnlike OMCGs and ethnic gangs – where inter-gang rivalry has, to someextent, limited their growth – the transnational crime syndicates will dealwith anyone locally – provided the result is the same and the bulk of theprofits come back to them.“What’s coming through is that the international partnerships arebeing developed. They will get a cook from China, an importer fromsomewhere else and a moneyman from another country. So what theyare doing is forming business entities, using whatever resource they canget to get it off the ground,” Allan said. He also said that the networksinternational law enforcement agencies were coming across nowwere across a whole spectrum of nationalities and he would be “verysurprised indeed, given New Zealanders entrepreneurial skills, if therewasn’t another Mr Asia in there somewhere.” (Editor’s note: TerryClark, a New Zealander, was known as “Mr Asia” during the late1970s when he ran one of the biggest drug networks in the world).The big playersInternational law enforcement agencies are finding it increasingly hardto convict those responsible for funding such huge drug manufacturing• Rock crystal methamphetamine.• Pseudoephedrine tablets – used as precursors in the manufactureof methamphetmine.• A large bag of crystal meth ready for distribution in smallerdeal bags.- Photos courtesy USDEA.operations. They are often well removed from the factories and laundermoney through legitimate business enterprises.Despite Indonesia’s tough line on drugs, including the death penalty,many foreign nationals have been arrested for trafficking or possessionin recent years. The “Bali Nine”, as they were dubbed by the media – agroup of young Australians charged with trying to smuggled heroin fromBali into Australia – were all given life sentences while the mastermindsbehind the plot have been sentenced to death by firing squad.March 200637

PoliceNewsThe Voice of Police“Drug trafficking syndicates are continually evolving moreand more sophisticated methods to evade detection for drugshipments, and this is yet another example of this.”- New Zealand Customs Service Manager for Drug Investigations,Simon Williamson, referring to the seizure of half a kilogramof liquid cocaine (concealed in the perfume bottles picturedopposite) at Auckland international Airport recently.- Photo courtesy NZ Customs.New Zealand Customs and Police have recently stopped some large-scalemeth importations – notably the seizure of 8.1 kilograms in Wellington,which had a street value of $8 million – New Zealand’s biggest bust to date.Other significant seizures have been made in Auckland, Christchurch andWellington. One operation was dealing over $100,000 of meth a week.To put this in perspective, the total of all border seizures of crystal meth for2005 was 11.8 kilograms. Organised crime syndicates are clearly becomingbolder in their efforts to import larger quantities of the drug in to NewZealand.Tip of the iceberg?Customs and Police admit that they may be only getting the tip of theiceberg in relation to the amount of precursors and ready-made meth beingimported.A senior Customs official, spoken to by Police News, estimated that Customsand Police were responsible for stopping somewhere between seven and20% of all importations.Detective Inspector Don Allan says of the seizure rate: “Say if we werelooking at a seizure rate as high as 20% – and I tend to think that’s probablyway over the top – and that’s one-fifth of what is coming into the country,then we really have some issues.”The demand for ampethamines knows no bounds, as is evidenced by thefact that in the last six years clan lab busts have risen from just nine to ahigh of 204 last year. Some are only kitchen-sink type operations, whichhave a small output capacity and Police News understands that Police areinvestigating the possibility of differentiating between clan labs based on alab’s capacity.Senior police officers say that while meth/P has a high media profilebecause of the high profile murder cases and mega violence associatedwith it, society should not lose sight of the fact that alcohol abuse accountsfor some 70% of interaction with police. Allan agrees: “I’m not suggestingfor one second that we don’t have major problems with P but there is atendency to forget that our major problem as a society is alcohol, but thedifference is that alcohol is accepted in society.”Fuelling other crimesDrug Squad and Intelligence officers say that meth is at the heart of amultitude of other crimes such as car thefts, property crimes, fraud andburglaries, to name but a few. These crimes become the domain of addictswho lack the incomes of the middle-class user.On a global scale, transnational crime syndicates are known to be involvedin terrorism, intellectual property theft, trafficking in drugs, arms and people,insurance and computer fraud, piracy, bribery and corruption of publicofficials and the trade of human body parts.Demand and huge profit margins are the motivating factors driving the crimesyndicates to import drugs into New Zealand. In Asia, a gram of crystal methis manufactured for the equivalent of $4.20 (NZ) and will be sold on thestreet for as little as $50 (NZ) while here it can sell for between $800 (NZ)(usually $100 a point with 10 points to the gram; but when buying a gramthe price would usually be discounted).American drug agency sources told Police News that the most lucrativeplaces for Asian drug cartels to ply their trade in meth are Hawaii and Guam,where they are getting double the price available in mainland USA, wherethe drug is usually cut to around 38% purity.International responseIn order to try and stop the prolific trade developing in countries alongthe Pacific Rim, the US State Department has been sponsoring top drugenforcement officials from Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and other Pacificnations to travel to the United States to discuss strategies for dealing withthe problem. Police News understands that US officials are working closelywith mainland Chinese officials also.Paul Smith, Professor of transnational security issues at the Asia PacificCenter for Security Studies, calls the burgeoning problem of transnationalsyndicates targeting Pacific countries as “the devil’s dilemma”.“It is always a potential problem because we have a huge market for this(ice) like we all know,” Smith said. He said that as police became moreeffective at closing down local clan labs they might inadvertently create moreof a market for the imported variety (of ice) and “that’s the devil’s dilemmathat we have,” he added.Sheriff’s Office returns property after 29 yearsYou know the one about Police always gettingtheir man?Well, one Toronto resident has had his faithin human nature restored after having his lostproperty returned to him – 29 years after he‘misplaced’ it.In 1977, John Bayles of Mission, Kansas andnow of Toronto, left behind property including$23.87 in US currency, a silver dollar which wasover 100 years old, several foreign coins, andsome commemorative coins.Sheriff’s deputies took the items to the JohnsonCounty Sheriff’s office and logged them into thestation’s lost property office.Just recently, Sheriff Frank Denning made adecision to purge the property rooms of old itemsand return property to their rightful owners. Thehunt for John Bayles began. After some gooddetective work by property clerks Robert Johnstonand Mel Soper, Mr Bayles was located in Canadaand through an evaluation process, whichincluded him specifically identifying several of thecoins, he was reunited with his goods.38March 2006

New Zealand Police AssociationAre the new Organised Crime Unitsgoing to further deplete stretched CIB?By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsNZ Police has recently expanded its response to organised crime by settingup Organised Crime Units in Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and possibly Bay ofPlenty – the first time that provincial centres have had such dedicatedresources.The units have been funded by extra money allocated in last year’s Policebudget.Police Association President Greg O’Connor told Police News that while itwas timely for Police to be putting more resources into the battle againstorganised crime the risk was that the new units might further deplete analready depleted CIB by creating even more “ring-fenced positions”.“This could create a similar scenario to when section staff end up doingvastly increased workloads because staff have been ring-fenced into otherareas,” Mr O’Connor said. “There must be account taken of the hugereactive factor which is often left out of the policing equation. We need agood pool of experienced investigators to be able to respond to homicides,rapes and robberies, otherwise we run the risk of losing public confidenceand credibility.”Depletion of CIB“There is a risk of depleting the available pool of officers if we continuallyring-fence staff into specialist areas without addressing the underyling needfor more staff to fill the positions they have left,” Mr O’Connor added.The specialist nature of organised crime investigations has, historically,been the domain of the CIB. But with CIB resources stretched, the capacityof the Police to respond by using detectives for what are time-consumingorganised crime investigations has been limited.Senior detectives and Drug Squad officers say that the writing has been onthe wall for sometime about the foothold organised crime would cementdue to policing having to be prioritised because of limited resources.The Hawke’s Bay unit will have four investigators and be based at thedistrict HQ in Napier. A Senior Sergeant will head the unit.Illicit drug detectionThe Nelson-based unit was recently instituted to crack down on organisedcrime in Marlborough, Nelson and the West Coast. Five detectives willwork in the OCU – focused mainly on detecting the manufacture anddistribution of illicit drugs in the Tasman district.Police are struggling to attract investigators into the CIB, resulting in hugeworkloads for detectives. Police have acknowledged that there is no easyanswer to the problem.Historically, detectives came from people in their 20s, who had fewerfamily commitments. But in the last decade that demographic has changeddramatically – with 50% of those employed by Police now being over 30years of age – a rise of 20% since 1996.One applicant – five positionsBay of Plenty is a case in point, which highlights problems aroundringfencing. Bay of Plenty had advertised for five positions related to thesetitng up of a Rotorua-based Organised Crime Unit but, at time of writing,Police News sources indicated that there had been only one applicant.One detective said: “We have the Head Hunters moving in and dealingin Tauranga and we are hearing stories of intimidation and businessesbeing signed over to gangs for P-related debts. Yet, we haven’t the staffto deal with these issues because for years it has been placed in the ‘toohard’ basket. Now they want to set up units to deal with the problemby ring-fencing and there just aren’t the detectives available to deal withkidnappings, rapes, homicides and the time-intensive investigationsaround organised crime.”Detectives from various districts around the country also say that theonus of proof that judges now require before they will convict for drugdealing is also creating backlogs. “We now have to prove commerciality,that commercial intent is there and its got to the stage where you almosthave to find the dealer with the money on them before some judges willconvict. Previously, you’d get a guy with say 50 to 100 cannabis plantsand they’d be done for cultivation, now judges are a bit more reluctantto do that unless you can catch the offender with a big wad of money orunaccounted monies in their bank accounts. So that level of asset proofis placing extra strain on our resources,” one detective said, echoing thesentiments expressed by several others to Police News.Come let me lead you to HellThe poem below was penned by a young women meth addict asshe sat in jail, awaiting sentencing on drug charges. On beingreleased, she went back to using the drug that owned her. Shewas found dead shortly after.I destroy homes and tear families apart,I take your children, and that’s just the start.I’m more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold.The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.If you need me, remember I’m easily found,I live all around you - in schools and in town.I live with the rich; I live with the poor,I live down the street, and maybe next door.I’m made in a lab, but not like you think.I can be made under the kitchen sink.In your child’s closet and even in the woods.If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.I have many names, but there’s one you know best.I’m sure you’ve heard of me, my name is Crystal Meth.My power is awesome; try me you’ll see.But if you do, you may never break free.Just try me once and I might let you go,Try me twice, and I’ll own your soul.When I possess you, you’ll steal and you’ll lie,You do what you have to - just to get high.The crimes you’ll commit for my narcotic charms,will be worth the pleasure you’ll feel in your arms.You’ll lie to your mother; you’ll steal from your dad,when you see their tears, you should feel sad.But you’ll forget your morals and how you were raised,I’ll be your conscience, I’ll teach you my ways.I take kids from parents, and parents from kids,I turn people from God, and separate friends.I’ll take everything from you, your looks and your pride,I’ll be with you always - right by your side.You’ll give up everything - your family, your home,your friends, your money; then you’ll be alone.I’ll take and take, till you have nothing more to give.When I’m finished with you, you’ll be lucky to live.If you try me be warned - this is no game.If given the chance, I’ll drive you insane.I’ll ravish your body; I’ll control your mind,I’ll own you completely; your soul will be mine.The nightmares I’ll give you while lying in bed,the voices you’ll hear, from inside your head.The sweats, the shakes; the visions you’ll see,I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.But then it’s too late, and you’ll know in your heart,that you are mine, and we shall not part.You’ll regret that you tried me; they always do,but you came to me, not I to you.You knew this would happen, many times you were told,but you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.You could have said “No”, and just walked away,If you could live that day over, now what would you say?I’ll be your master; you’ll be my slave,I’ll even go with you to your grave.Now that you have met me, what will you do?Will you try me or not? It’s all up to you.I can bring you more misery than words can tell,Come take my hand, let me lead you to Hell.March 200639

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceWashington State shifts focus totarget methamphetamine usersAfter years of targeting home-based methamphetaminelaboratories, Washington State and law enforcement officialsare shifting focus, taking aim at meth addicts themselves.Washington has for many years ranked nearthe top of the states for the number of methlabs found annually.Now, Washington Attorney-General RobMcKenna, along with a 26-member task forceknown as “Operation: Allied Against Meth,”is backing legislation that focuses on longerprison sentences and emphasises substanceabuse treatment.“Our jails and prisons are filling up with peoplewho have been convicted of meth offencesand offences related to their meth addiction,”McKenna told Associated Press, citing aSpokane survey that determined that 93% ofinmates convicted of felony property crimeswere meth users.Longer sentencesThe measure would lengthen the penalties ofmeth offenders by requiring sentences to beserved consecutively. Longer sentences willallow the state adequate time to wean addictsoff the highly addictive stimulant, according toMcKenna.“It is harder to treat a meth addiction than it isto treat an addiction for cocaine or heroin orother hard drugs,” McKenna said. “Someonewho comes out of jail or prison addicted tometh will go right back to their old behaviours.Therefore, treatment is an essentialcomponent.”In tandem with the new measures will be atreatment pilot project specifically for methusers. About 100 new treatment beds wouldbe established.To target meth addicts in all facets of life, thebill would re-enact Washington’s Drug-FreeWork Place standards, which expired in 2001.That legislation compensates employers forkeeping employees off drugs.Focus on rural countiesAdditionally, the state will make rural countiesa priority, providing more than $1 million- Photo courtesy of the Office of the Attorney-General, Washington.per year for drug enforcement. Meth usersare proportionally higher in rural regions,and some Washington counties don’t havefederally funded task forces.In total, McKenna’s meth push will cost thestate around $10 million per year, said policydirector Chris Johnson.Research shows that meth addicts are oftenrepeat offenders and they are a burden tovictims, the court system, the environment,the state and law enforcement. McKenna alsonoted that “meth is the single largest driver offoster care cases in the state.”McKenna’s proposals will also provide moretools to assist in the cleanup of contaminatedmeth labs.RestrictionsUnder a law that went into effect on 1 October2005, stores must keep cold and allergymedications behind the counter, and clerksmust check a customer’s identification toensure that they are at least 18.Since last July, customers have been limitedto purchasing two meth-producing precursorproducts in a 24-hour period. Since NewYear’s Day, store clerks have started keeping40March 2006

New Zealand Police Associationtrack of who is purchasing the products in order to help lawenforcement officials identify repeat buyers.The number of reported meth labs has dropped by about50 percent in the last six years, according to McKenna.“But it’s important to understand that reducing the numberof meth labs is not the same as reducing the amount of methuse,” he told Associated Press.About 75% of Washington’s methamphetamine comesfrom outside state borders. To curb that trend, the AttorneyGeneral is working with Idaho and Oregon to establish amulti-state initiative to target the destructive drug.“It is harder to treat a methaddiction than it is to treat anaddiction for cocaine or heroin orother hard drugs. Someone whocomes out of jail or prison addictedto meth will go right back to theirold behaviours. Therefore, treatmentis an essential component.”- Washington State Attorney-GeneralRob McKenna.Meth overtakes cocaine as the biggestproblem drug in the United StatesMethamphetamine has overtaken cocaine as the biggest drug problem in the US, accordingto a major crime survey across 45 states.A survey of 500 law enforcement agencies found meth-related arrests hadgone up over the past three years in 87% of the 45 states in which the pollwas conducted. Sixty-two percent reported increases in laboratory seizures.Fifty-eight percent said methamphetamine was their largest drug problem.Nineteen percent said cocaine was, 17 percent said marijuana and threepercent said heroin.Seventy percent of counties reported increases in robberies and burglariesbecause of methamphetamine; 62 percent reported increases in domesticviolence; 53 percent reported an increase in assaults; and 27 reported anincrease in identity theft.Methamphetamine abuse was reported as particularly bad in rural areas.It is easy to produce using chemicals found on farms, and the homemadelabs are harder to detect in rural areas.DetaineesHalf of the counties surveyed said 20% of peoplein their jails were there because of meth-relatedcrimes. In some areas it accounted for morethan half of those detained and law enforcementofficials say burglaries, domestic violence andassaults have increased because of it.Children also suffer - from neglect and abuse ofaddicted parents or carers, and from the negativeside effects of the drug being produced in theirhomes.The problem started in the western US, butit is moving east - and it now has what theAssociation of County Governments calls a“devastating” effect on communities nationwide.The officials have been pleading with lawmakersto restore financing for an $804 million drugfightingprogram that the group said had beenproposed for elimination in the 2006 FederalBudget, and said the Bush administrationhad focused its drug-fighting efforts toomuch on marijuana and not enough onmethamphetamine.- Sources: The National Ledger andNew York Times.• Cocaine (pictured above with the familiar Scorpion logo), once America’s ‘drug of choice’,has been replaced by methamphetamine (pictured at top) as the USA’s most abused drug.- Photos courtesy of US Drug Enforcement Agency.March 200641

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceThe real cost of methamphetamineMethamphetamine addiction doesn’t only destroy the lives of its abusers – like mostaddictions it has far reaching effects for those close to the addict. Angela, a bright, intelligent28-year-old, spoken to recently by Police News, is one such person. Here is her story of howmethamphetamine affected her life through her involvement with a meth addict:Meth has broken my heart and robbed me of the love of my life. It hasdestroyed my friend and soulmate. John and I met when we were justteenagers. We used to travel to school together and gradually a friendshipgrew. We both had parents with addiction problems - John’s Mum was alongtime drug addict and my father was a chronic alcoholic. This mutual,shared ‘pain’ brought us together.We swore to the moon and stars that wewould never end up like that.Lost contactAfter a few years, our respective familiesmoved to Hamilton and Wellington and we lostcontact. About three years ago we met againat a wedding and we rekindled our earlierrelationship. This eventually led to a romancebetween us.After a while, I learned that John was using“ice”. He seemed to be in control of thesituation and he reassured me that he was“only an occasional user”. He said the drugmade him relaxed at the end of a hard week.The alarm bells should have been ringing forme then and there but I trusted him – and Iloved him. John said he only used meth aboutonce every two to three months. I believedhim. I shouldn’t have.John moved into a flat and I soon learned thathis ‘flatties’ were also meth users. He lost hisjob and went on the dole. With less moneycoming in and an increasing habit, Johnturned to selling small amounts of the drug.Over several months, his appearance becamedishevelled, he would stay up all night; hishygiene standards suffered greatly and hisappearance became gaunt. The flat was littlemore than a doss-house. There was hardly astick of furniture in the place and the wholeemphasis of his and his flatmate’s livesseemed to revolve around drugs and theirassociated paraphernalia – pipes, empty dealbags, butane lighters, you name it, they had it.Detox regimeI managed to persuade John to leave. Ithought that the best solution for him was tomove in with me, so at least I could make surethat he was getting three meals a day and sohe would have a few comforts of home.I reasoned that I could save him from himself.I was terribly wrong.I reckon he slept solidly for the first 10 dayswhile he started a detoxing regime. Withproper food and rest he started looking like hisold self.“After a while, I learned thatJohn was using “ice”. Heseemed to be in control of thesituation and he reassuredme that he was only anoccasional user”.Last year, he got himself a steady job againand we made plans for our future together.We even talked about starting a family. Heseemed to be on the straight and narrow atlast and I loved him all the more for havingapparently beaten his demons.Just when I thought he had put that worldbehind him, John started using again with aworkmate. They were both discovered using atwork and were dismissed.Like the fool I was, I tried to save him again,not realising that the only person who couldreally save John – was John. Like mostaddicts he lied to and manipulated everyonearound him. He became self-obsessed andeventually I discovered he had stolen $3000from our joint bank account.When I confronted him about it, he eventuallymoved out and back to his mother’s house.We agreed to try our relationship again butI later found out that he was two-timing mewith an ex-girlfriend.That was the final straw.I packed up his things and delivered them tohis mother’s house. Occasionally, he wouldring, usually when he was spinning out. Astough as it was, I eventually learned to justhang up.Trail of debtsJohn left a trail of debts behind him, many ofwhich I am still paying off. The only thing I amgrateful for is that we never had kids together,as I wouldn’t want to have put them throughwhat I have endured.Meth destroys relationships, jobs and lives.So many nights I have wasted, crying overhim, being angry with him and trying to cleanup after him. Meth addicts aren’t only usersof the drug they are users of people too. Theyare unreliable schemers, who are self-centredand focussed only on their next hit. It took mea long time to realise this and to own up to myown foolishness.Finally, I realised that he was not myresponsibility. John was an adult and neededto act as one. He needed to take responsibilityfor his own choices, his own actions and hisown life. It took a long time to realise that inorder for my own self-preservation I coulddo no more. He has chosen addiction andthe poverty, misery and heartbreak it causes- over me – and that hurts me greatly.But I am moving beyond the hurt and theblame and the loss of a person I onceconsidered my soulmate. I have seen methclaim the life of an intelligent, warm, caringand formerly responsible human being. Johnis not dead but he may as well be – for his lifeis a train wreck.My message is simple – if you are involvedwith a meth addict – get out. It will rob themof their life, so make sure it doesn’t rob you ofyours too.Footnote: Angela’s name has been changedfor this article in order to protect heridentity.42March 2006

New Zealand Police AssociationSmurfs rule – well, not quiteMemo to robbers: If you disguise yourself as a Smurf, make sure you wipe behindyour ears afterwards.Police in Anchorage, Alaska said a man painted his face blue and tried to rob ahotel, but was arrested when officers later spotted residual stains on his neck,ears and forehead that hadn’t washed off, according to a report by AssociatedPress.Police put out a description of the suspect: a man in his early 20s, thin, with shortblonde hair wearing a puffy red coat like a ski jacket – and a blue face.The description sounded familiar to local police officer, Kevin McDonald.Earlier disturbanceOne day earlier, he had responded to a call of a disturbance at a different hotel. Hespoke to a young man with short blonde hair who was wearing a puffy red coat.McDonald and Sergeant Chris Sims drove to that hotel and spoke to the deskclerk. Twenty minutes after the robbery call, the suspect appeared.The officers found a Mr Clark, resplendant in blue face paint. “It was a clue,” oneofficer said bemusedly. So was the blue ink on his fingertips.Police believe Clark ran from the Super 8, washed his face somewhere and walkedto the other hotel, where he was checked in. Blue stain, however, was prominenton his ears, neck and throat.Bingo hall blotterPolice obtained a search warrant for Clark’s room. They recovered a knife sheathand an ink blotter. The blotters are commonly used in bingo halls for stampingcards.“He appears to have cut it open and emptied the contents into an ice bucket,” apolice spokesman said. “He painted himself up good.”Police photographed Clark with the blue stains in place.This man has a conscienceGerman police were amazed and amused when a pensioner turned himself infor a crime he committed 80 years ago.Helmut Bleibtreu told officers at Herne in the Ruhr region of Germany he hadsuffered from a guilty conscience ever since planting a firecracker on the localrailway line in 1926.He said it was the only bad thing he had ever done and asked what hispunishment would be.The officers told him the statute of limitations for that crime had passed - andin any case the offence had never been reported.They cautioned Mr Bleibtreu not to do it again, according to a recent reportin The Australian.Shape up or you’re down theroad in Northern UtahMany Northern Utah law enforcement agencies have implemented rules toensure officers stay in tip-top shape throughout their careers.Not passing the tests can result in termination of employment. Davis CountySheriff Bud Cox says 10% of his officers could lose their jobs if they fail theagency’s five-part fitness test.But officials enforcing the rules say meeting physical fitness standards ismore than fair and is a matter of safety, for the public and the officers.Most professions come back and look at the basic standards and say: “Canyou still do it?’” says Ogden Police Chief, Jon Greiner.The Utah Highway Patrol requires its rookies to pass fitness tests every sixmonths for the first 18 months on the job. But it doesn’t stop there. Troopersmust meet physical fitness standards to be promoted and administratorsmust pass the annual test or be replaced.Pining for Ella?They take adultery very seriously in the Pinellas County Police Department inFlorida – it is now a disciplinary offence.The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is cracking down on their own in relation tocheating spouses.After learning of several cases of philandering by officers, Sheriff Jim Coats hastold officers that they will face disciplinary procedures if they are caught havingaffairs with other officers. Pinella County already has a GI (General Instruction),which forbids police officers from having relationships with each other.by Ricky CollinsChampion AromaticsIn world terms, New Zealand is a very smallproducer of wine. Our total production amountsto around 0.2 percent of all wine producedacross the globe annually. However, for sucha small player we certainly make an impact,winning awards at many international wineshows.While New Zealand winemakers are generally getting more enthusiasticabout Pinot Noir, international recognition still tends to focus on ouraromatic wines, Sauvignon Blanc in particular. It’s interesting to havea look at the New Zealand wines, which are doing well internationallyrecently. One of the most respected international reviewers of wine is aUK based magazine called Decanter. They recently held their annual worldwine awards, in which they singled out 31 trophy winners from over 5500wine entries.Staggeringly, New Zealand wines won four of the 31 trophies, witharomatic whites clearly standing out as our strength. The 2004Astrolabe Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc won the Sauvignon Blancunder £10 ($27.36 NZ) trophy, while the 2004 Saint Clair WairauReserve Sauvignon Blanc won the over £10 trophy. The 2004Johanneshof Cellars Marlborough Gerwurztraminer won the over£10 Aromatic White trophy, and interestingly the 2000 Morton EstateConiglio Chardonnay picked up the trophy for best Chardonnayover £10. Traditionally, French White Burgundy wines clean up theChardonnay trophies, but their latest entries to this competition were quitedisappointing, with new world wines outshining them. Endorsement of ourwines at this level is a clear indication that New Zealand is making someof the best aromatic whites in the world. Here are a few notes about NewZealand aromatic whites that I’ve enjoyed recently.Saint Clair Pioneer Block 1 Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (RRP $24):This Marlborough producer has a strong focuson Sauvignon Blanc and strives to producethe best examples of this variety in the world.Based on Decanter’s recent awards they arehitting the mark. This new release reallystood out for me as a quality wine. While ithas those classic concentrated aromas andflavours of redcurrants and passionfruit, italso has a steely minerality to it that addscomplexity. This is a wine to wow guests whoappreciate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.Corban’s Private Bin Hawke’s Bay Gerwurztraminer 2004 (RRP $22):I should point out that I love Gerwurztraminer, so I can be a little biasedwhen it comes to this variety. However, this was just delicious. It hasfloral aromas with Turkish delight and lychee flavours coming through.There is a touch of spiciness to it and a slightly sweet finish. What standsout for me is the harmonious balance that this wine has. It is a very stylishwine.Stoneleigh Rapaura Series Marlborough Pinot Gris 2005 (RRP $24):This wine has only just been released and to be fair is still settling downin the bottle. However, it is already developing into a standout exampleof Pinot Gris. It has that slightly viscous texture that Pinot Gris can show,excellent balance and the apricot and peach flavours linger on. The 11.3grams of residual sugar leave you with a nice sweetish aftertaste, and it ismissing that overt heat that some New Zealand Pinot Gris can show. Thisis a style of Pinot Gris that I really enjoy.March 200643

PoliceNewsThe Voice of Police• Police marked the 120th anniversary of NZ Police with a rousing haka in Parliament grounds last month. Celebrations also marked the50th anniversary of the police dog section and the 75th anniversary of the NZ Police pipe band.- Photo courtesy of Wellington Police Forensic Photography.153 US police died in the line of duty last yearOne hundred and fifty three police officers, includingfour women, were killed in the line of duty in theUnited States during 2005, one less than in 2004,according to an Associated Press report.The figures continued a downward trend in policeofficer fatalities in the last 30 years, although therehas been a 40% increase in traffic related deathsin that time.Traffic-related accidents claimed the lives of 62officers last year. Another 60 died in shootings,including firearms training accidents. Physicalrelatedincidents, including heart attacks andheat stroke, accounted for 20 more deaths. Otherdeaths included two fatalities in a helicopter crash,one in a bomb-related incident, one in a stabbing,two in drownings and three in falls.Body armour and TasersDeath rates have reduced since the advent of bodyarmour and less lethal weaponry such as theTaser, according to the two groups.Excluding the 234 officers killed in the Sept 11terrorist attacks in New York, 160 officers havebeen killed each year on average over the pastdecade. The annual average was 220 throughthe 1970’s.There are an estimated 800,000 state, federaland local police officers in the United States,according to the most recent available numbersfrom the Bureau of Justice Statistics.HOLIDAY HOME AVAILABILITY– for bookings see: www.policeassn.org.nzMarch April MayPAIHIA............................................ 14 ..................................................................8,10,24-26,30 .........................................................1-4,7-9,15-16,16-17,21-25,27,28-29STANMORE BAY ............................. 7-9,16,19,20-22,26-30,31 ............................2-6,6-9,10-13,17-19,22-26,27,30 ..........................1-11,14-31AUCKLAND .................................... 26-30 ............................................................2,7-8,17,30 .............................................................1-3,8-11,14-16,17-18,21-31WHANGAMATA ............................... Not available ..................................................10-13,17,27, ...........................................................3-4,7-11,15-18,21-25,28-31MT MAUNGANUI ............................ Not available ..................................................4,6-7,9,20,28,30 .....................................................1-4,7-14,14-31OHOPE ........................................... 13-16,19,28-30 .............................................5,17,30....................................................................1-12,14-31ROTORUA ...................................... 7,12-13,14-15,19-23,28-30 ..........................2-6,10-11,12-13,26-27,30......................................1-5,7-17,18,20-31TAUPO ........................................... 7,13,20,21-22,...............................................3-6,10,13,21,27 ......................................................1-4,7-11,15-19,21-31TURANGI ........................................ 8-9,12-15,18,20-23,26-31 ............................1-6,9-13,17,22-23,25-30........................................1-12,14-31NAPIER .......................................... 17,20,26,29-31 .............................................30............................................................................1-4,7-11,17-18,21-25,29-31PARAPARAUMU .............................. 7-9,26-29 ......................................................6-7,26-30................................................................1-4,8-11,14-31GREYTOWN .................................... 13-14,21 .......................................................5-6,9-11,13,............................................................1-4,7-11,15-18,21-25,28-31WELLINGTON ................................. 20-22,23,25,29 .............................................2,5,13,23.................................................................3-4,8-10,14,21-23,28-31NELSON ......................................... 17 ..................................................................3,11.........................................................................7-31HANMER SPRINGS ......................... 8,12 ...............................................................6,27.........................................................................2-4,8-9,14-18,21-26,29-31CHRISTCHURCH ............................. 12,24,30 ........................................................6,10-13,30 ..............................................................1-11,14-20,27-31TEKAPO ......................................... 17,20 .............................................................3-5,9,12-13,30........................................................1-4,8-11,14,16-18,21-26,28-31WANAKA ........................................ 7-8,13-14,30 .................................................3-4,10,26-27,29-30 ................................................1-4,7-31CROMWELL ................................... Not available ..................................................22,30.......................................................................1-4,7-9,14-18,21-25,28-31QUEENSTOWN ............................... Not available ..................................................Not available ............................................................24TE ANAU ........................................ 5,28 ...............................................................1,4-6,9,12,21,24-26,28-29 .....................................2-8,10-25,27-31DUNEDIN ....................................... 9,16,20,22,27,29 ...........................................2,11,17....................................................................1,4,7-10,15-20,23,25,28-3144March 2006

The big ‘pay’ out– yeah right!This column is written by a frontlinepolice officer. It does notrepresent the views or policies ofthe Police Association.Well do you really think its coming to a town near you? I mean we havealready been promised another 1000 frontliners over the next three years toboost the thin blue line, which really is a Godsend. The nurses and teachershave done well (and rightly so) over the last couple of years, so maybe it’s ourturn! Anyone waiting for those infamous ‘Tui’ words yet?Actually, I’m a bit of an optimist as it looks like us lot with the FTO tag aregoing to be able to keep it when we jump to being an NCO. It’s supposedto encourage us to take the ‘big step’ and reward all that responsibility youhave when you are running the ship! Food for thought I guess but I knowit hasn’t gone down well with me mates in the Feds, who are screamingfor recruits in the demon arena. Another opinion is that it undermines thosealready promoted. Perhaps this is another example of ‘divide and conquer’.Some say it will set the standard for others but how many years have we beenhearing that baloney.Dividing the cakeMind you, funny how some things just get done. Me sources tell me that oureducation facility are still upping people’s pay bands to keep them on theteam, when they see fit. Imagine if they did that for us all when a vacancywasn’t going to be filled or someone intended to depart. I also hear the ‘CakeTin’ team is not immune from handing out a bit of extra cake to substitute oneof the ‘unwanted’ team. But only in an ‘HR’ world of course!I think the air up top is obviously thinner and perhaps that accounts for someof the decision-making.Brides-in-waitingStill a couple of months before the ‘Brides-in-waiting’, and the rest of us,find out who the new Commander-in-Chief will be. I wonder what odds theywould be giving at the TAB if they ran a book on it? No matter who gets thecomfy chair from Aunty Helen, no doubt we will see a new looking top tableand a new direction that will eventually filter down to us at the sharp end.Mind you, if we are going to get those new Taser thingies to give us a bit moreprotection it shows some at the table are eating their greens and thinkingabout our welfare.Don’t dream it’s overNeil and Tim Finn were on the button with this one. I mean to say; I see that‘meth’ trend (quote, unquote) just won’t go away. The ‘Bay’ boys and galslock up a ‘turkey’ that went horribly wayward on the stuff and committedsome terrible stuff and the Capital Kids made a seizure that even got theJaffas attention!Goes to show we can’t let our guard down team and we continue to be thebest juggling act in town, dealing with road policing, violence, drugs, burgs,domis and all that other stuff to ensure we continue to live in God’s Own (yepthat even includes you northern folks).Same old, same oldRed and black time you lot, so make sure ya Sky subs are paid. I never getbored with our lot trouncing everything in sight and knowing that the onlyteam better in town is the ‘Thin Blue Line’!1 2 3 4 5 6 78Clues:Across:1. Glory (4)3. Five roughen and blend to create a stateafter a hard night (8)9. Readers mixed up slightly to what they maydo to understand (7)10. Hung out or maybe broadcasted (5)11. Becoming used to a custom or habitat (12)13. Motivate some sort of violent action (6)15. To argue is to blackout perhaps (6)17. Thousand politicians may cause arguableovertones (12)20. Fathers (5)21. Inquires into deaths (7)22. Appraised someone (8)23. Sell (4)Down:1. Of scientific evidential value or justconifers? (8)2. Entitle (5)4. Still for sale (6)5. Scatters slug pellets for burglars tool(12)6. Piazza (7)7. Hitch (4)8. Most women want decent ones (12)12. A seconder muddled up as to what isaccepted (8)14. Useful for photographers (7)16. Cold dangly things (6)18. Small amount of cannabis? (5)19. Continent (4)9 101113 14 151617 181920 2112January/February answers:Across:1. Scales4. Scrimp8. Approximate10. Evening11. Pie12. Wrap13. Pen14. Arid17. RSI18. Costume19. Egotistical20. Tempts21. TraderDown:1. Search warrant2. Amphetamine3. Evoked5. Charge6. Perpendicular7. Citizenship9. Experienced15. Accost16. Guitar22 23We remember…Who passed away…MATEHAERE Kingi James 18-Jan-06 Member HamiltonO’NEILL Catherine 25-Jan-06 Widow of member DannevirkeCORBETT Raewyn Avery 1-Feb-06 Wife of member ThamesMILES Ronald 2-Feb-06 Retired member ChristchurchHAY Harold 13-Feb-06 Widower of member WaikanaeBENNIE James Alexander Wadell 22-Feb-06 Retired member ChristchurchMarch 200645

POLICE COUNCIL OF SPORTTo contact the Police Council of Sport, call Alison Murray at the RNZPC. Ph: (04) 238-3139The walking (rugby) wounded• Ah, the joys of pre-season rugby. Association President Greg O’Connor (right) and Inspector John (JJ) Johnston (Police Council of Sport,Chairman) found themselves on the injury bench while playing in a Wairarapa charity rugby encounter recently. JJ injured his arm and Gregwas nursing a broken bone in his foot.- Photo courtesy of Susan Nikolaison.Coleman and Cromb show rivalsclean pair of heels in triathlonSam Coleman (Open Men) and Donalda Cromb(Open Women) were impressive winners of theirrespective divisions in the Wellington PoliceTriathlon Championships held at Makaraka Pointon 29 January.Coleman, with a time of 1 hour 15 minutes and51 seconds, was well clear of second-placedAndrew Coleman (1.23.14) while Cromb had aneven more impressive winning margin when shecompleted the 750 metres swim, 20 kilometresbike ride and 5 kms run in 1.20.59, to finish justunder 20 minutes clear of runner-up Cynthia VanEe with Sarah Waugh a further three minutesback in third spot.Ben Cornelius convincingly won the Masters’Men (30-39 years) division in a time of 1.12.29while Dion Blair (1.16.59) and Shane Rongonui(1.18.58) filled the minor placings. The Masters’Men (40-plus) division saw Glen Turner win witha superb effort in 1.09.16.First home in the Police teams event wereThree Non-Blondes in 1.11.21 followed by CAT(1.14.21) and Are We There Yet? Who finishedthird in 1.26.43.National DartsTournamentin Kaikourafrom 17-19 MarchThe NZ Police National Darts Tournament willbe held from 17-19 March in Kaikoura.Anyone interested in attending the tournamentplease contact Jude Gray or Rod Reid at theKaikoura Police on (03) 319 5038 or by Emailat: judith.gray@police.govt.nzor roderick.reid@police.govt.nzCompetition is open to current and past members,sworn and non-sworn and their partners.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.46March 2006

Nominations sought for PoliceCouncil of Sport awardsNOMINATION FORMNEW ZEALAND POLICE COUNCIL OF SPORT (Inc)Sports Awards 2005Please indicate the award this nomination refers to:New Zealand Police Association NZ Police Sportsperson of the YearNew Zealand Police Referee/Umpire of the YearNew Zealand Police Sports Administrator of the YearNominee Details:Surname:First Name:Rank:QID:Station:PCoS Member:Yes / No (please circle)Nominee’s signature:Proposer Details:Surname:First Name:Rank:Station:QID:Proposer’s signature:Nominee’s list of achievements and sporting highlights:(1 Dec 2004 to 30 Nov 2005 - include all regional, national and international achievements)Service to the Community:(in a few brief sentences comment on sporting involvement in the community)Other information (optional):(in a few brief sentences comment on why this person should receive the award)Please attach additional pages if required and any other supporting material including current sportingcurriculum vitae.Checklist:Form signed by nominee and nominator.Current sporting curriculum vitae attached.To be received by Police Council of Sport by 30th April 2006.New Zealand Police AssociationNominations are now being sought for the 2005 PCoS (Police Council of Sport) sports awards.These are awarded to Police athletes who attained high levels of sporting achievements in the previous year. There arethree awards presented each year – for Administrator (this includes managers, coaches or behind-the-scenes workers),for Official or Referee and the Police Association Sportsperson of the Year.All nominations are presented to a committee, which includes members of both the Council of Sport and the PoliceAssociation. When considering the Official and Sportsperson nominations, consideration is only given to achievementsfor the appropriate year whilst all previous history is looked at for the Administrator, although priority is given to theprevious year. If you wish to nominate someone please fill out the form below and send it to: Alison Murray, PCoS,RNZPC, Private Bag 50906, Porirua.• Nicola Lindley, last year’s NZ Police Association Sportsperson of the Year, receives her trophy from former Police Association vicepresident,Geoff Smith.Freedom ofspeech in theland of the free?A federal judge in Houston recently orderedthe Houston Police Department to refrain fromattempts to gag an outspoken officer whocriticised the department’s pursuit policy.The order came a day after Thomas Nixon wassuspended for 15 days for writing a columnin a local publication that compared inner-cityresidents to rats and rated the mental stabilityof women in inverse proportion to the number ofcats they own.U.S. District Judge David Hittner issued atemporary restraining order forbidding anyviolation of Nixon’s constitutional right to commentas a private citizen.A police spokesman said the department wouldnot comment until the city’s legal department hadbeen served with the order, according to a reportin The Houston Chronicle.Brett Ligon, an attorney with the Houston PoliceOfficers’ Union, said Nixon would seek to makeHittner’s order permanent.“Gag order”Union attorney Chad Hoffman filed a lawsuiton Nixon’s behalf, accusing police officials ofretaliating against him after he complainedpublicly that the HPD’s high-speed chase policyendangers people by failing to allow officers tostop suspects by using a ramming technique.Nixon, a patrol officer for 10 years, told the courtthat his right to free speech had been violated by“a gag order” by Police Chief Harold Hurtt.Nixon made his complaint to several news outletsafter a January 19 chase that ended in a head-oncollision with a car containing two women and aninfant.One woman suffered minor injuries.The department responded by opening an InternalAffairs investigation. Nixon was subsequentlyassigned to desk duty.Last year the Houston Police Department issueda memorandum to all the state’s police officerstelling them to “refrain from criticising thedepartment”.March 200647

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PolicePolice Association Quadrathon 2006SWIM 300m MOUNTAIN BIKE 9km RUN 5km KAYAK 1000mEmphasis is on participation, sportsmanship, entertainment, and survival. Your placingis incidental, but will be recorded, and outstanding feats will be celebrated.VENUE: Blue Lake, Rotorua. (On the beach at the rear of Blue Lake below lookout andbetween Blue and Green Lake).TIME: Race briefing at 1330 hrs. Race start 1345 hrs.DATE: Friday, 24 March 2006Categories• Individual.• Two-person team, (Teams can be any gender mix).• Four-person team (Teams can be any gender mix).Cost$10 per person OR if you are a member of the Police Council of Sport it’s FREE(Council of Sport is sponsoring all member participants)Trophies in some categories and spot prizes.With local Police numbers dwindling, the age-old practice of securing ‘ring-ins’ is now officiallysanctioned.Following the event, there will be a prizegiving with refreshments and finger food available in theRotorua Police Club (top floor) Rotorua Police Station around 1600 hours.Please detach and complete entry form and deliver to Christine Lunt, Police Station, Private BagRO3044, Rotorua, making cheques payable to: Rotorua Police Quadrathon 92 before Monday,20 March 2006. (For more info contact Chrissy Lunt on 3499525 or christine.lunt@police.govt.nz DDI 75725)Please detach entry form below and send to Christine by closing date:Entry form for Police Association Quadrathon.Category: Please circle category and gender where appropriate.Individual M / F. Two Person M / F / Mixed. Four Person M / F / Mixed.PoliceCouncil of Sport Member1. Swimmer: Y/N2. Mountain Biker: Y/N3. Runner: Y/N4. Kayaker: Y/NTeam Name:Economy way ahead in survey of NZ’s “mostimportant problem”; crime/violence secondPublic concerns about crime and violence (8.3% rating) have remained at a ranking of the country’s second“most important problem”, with the economy now firmly entrenched in the public mind as the country’s mostserious problem, according to the January 2006 UMR Research nationwide omnibus survey for December. Thesurvey questioned 750 New Zealanders over the age of 18, asking respondents to rank what they consideredthe “most important problem” facing the country. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.6%.Concerns about the economy have risen sharply to 26.4% with education at 6.6% ranking third.PLANNINGFOR YOURLIFE AFTERWORK?Are you a member of the GSFor the PSS?If you are, it is important youunderstand your choices. Thefinancial decisions you maketoday can have a major effecton your lifestyle in the future.Getting advice on how tomaximise your Police Superentitlement is essential.For a free initial consultation,speak to a Police FinancialPlanner today.0800 ON BEAT0800 662 328MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM - TOP 5What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?40%3530ECONOMY: 26.4%252015105CRIME ANDVIOLENCE: 8.3%EDUCATION: 6.6%RACE RELATIONS:5.8%HEALTHCARE:5.4%Your future. Our focus.0Jan-02Mar-02Apr-02May-02Jun-02Lt Aug 02Sep-02Oct-02Nov-02Dec-02Jan-03Feb-03Mar-03Apr-03May-03Jun-03Jul-03Aug-03Sep-03Oct-03Nov-03Dec-03Jan-04Feb-04Mar-04Apr-04May-04Jun-04Jul-04Aug-04Sep-04Oct-04Nov-04Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05Mar-05Apr-05May-05Jun-05Jul-05Aug-05Oct-05Nov-05Dec-05Jan-0648March 2006

New Zealand Police AssociationWrite 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.Police and the gang cultureWe were deeply concerned to read in theDecember issue of Police News the articleinviting your members to join the ‘BlueKnights’ Motorcycle Club.With the recent stance that the Association hastaken against gangs, does it now support anorganisation that seeks to emulate a criminalgang?Although those advocating the formation of thegroup in New Zealand would argue otherwise,the similarities between the Blue Knights MCand Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs) arestriking. They include:• the wearing of a three-piece patch;• national and international structure andoffice holders positions;• terminology;• events such as poker runs and charity runsaiming to gain public support;• secrecy;• enforcing discipline and obedience to thegroup;• oppression of females.Law enforcement motorcycle clubs (LEMCs)have been around for many years. The BlueKnights MC has previously had New Zealandmembers. Other clubs internationally includethe Wild Pigs MC, the Defenders MC, thePunishers MC, the Renegade Pigs MC, theUntouchables MC and the Reguladores MC.These groups vary in terms of their propensityfor violence, their association with OMCGsand their treatment of women, but sharemany common characteristics. Many of theirpatches depict skulls, wings and weapons,imitating those of OMCGs. Why would policeofficers want to glorify the image of gangs oraspire to copy the lifestyle and structure of acriminal group?Most notable is the willingness of Blue Knightsmembers, internationally, to wear a patch witha central symbol and top and bottom rockers, or'colours' as they are known both within OMCGsand Blue Knights’ chapters. The three-piecepatch is internationally recognised as a criminalgang symbol. Most members of the public willnot know the difference between a Blue Knightmember or an OMCG member - the Blue Knightswill simply be seen as another motorcycle gang.The New Zealand Police has taken enough blowsto our reputation in recent times without beinglabelled as gang members as well. Despite theview of some within the Police, we are not 'thebiggest gang in the country'. We must be seento be professional and beyond reproach at alltimes.There have been many instances worldwideof law enforcement MC members beingdiscovered associating or partying withOMCGs, or attending their events. It isinevitable that this would happen here,given the similarities in lifestyle that both ofthese groups value. This situation will leadto opportunities for gang members to bribeand corrupt those law enforcement members.OMCGs are always looking for ways toinfiltrate the Police, as we have seen on anumber of occasions.We don't have a problem with motorcyclists,genuine B.E.A.R’s (British, European andAmerican racing enthusiasts), people whohave watched ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’more than once, or Police social clubs. Wehave considerable concern with regard toPolice members who want to wear the threepiecepatch and seem to prefer the outlawbiker culture to that of the Police.We are surprised that the Association supportsor endorses the formation of a Blue Knights MCchapter in New Zealand, given the potentialfor such a group to damage the reputation ofus all. If the Blue Knights MC or other LEMCsbecome entrenched here, they will have thepotential to not only compromise Policeand Association efforts against gangs, but toprovide gangs the opportunity to compromiseand infiltrate the Police.The idea of forming a group of NZ Police whoshare an interest in motorcycling has obviousmerits and benefits. Why then, join andfinance an international group whose imagemirrors that of outlaw motorcycle gangs?Warren OlssonMike Watkins(Wellington)Mark Howard, past President of the CaliforniaBlue Knights International Law EnforcementMotorcycle Club, a 20-year police officer anda member of the Northern California OutlawMotorcycle Gang Investigators’ Associationand the California Homicide Investigators’Association responds:I am saddened to see well-meaning professionals,cut of the same cloth as I, expose their unbridledignorance in an area with which I am sothoroughly familiar.What concerns me is that many of the so-calledstriking “similarities” or criterion listed couldeasily be used to contrast most any military(and paramilitary) organisations as well asall police departments and law enforcementagencies. Structure, terminology, secrecy,enforcing discipline, oppression of females…when you start painting in broad strokes, youreally need to be careful that you don’t startpainting yourself and those around you. It is alltoo easy to stereotype and use the “looks-like-aduck”mentality. The reality that many peoplein Gang Intel have persisted in and continue toperpetuate these types of unfounded assumptionsis both alarming and disappointing. Here aresome points for reflection on those raised by theletter writers:Patches: No one in the Blue Knights is requiredto wear any back patch or vest as a conditionof membership. They are entirely optional.What if the outlaws started wearing shoulderpatches? Are police departments going tostop wearing them? We shouldn’t let what theoutlaws do dictate what we choose to do.Structure: We have an international andregional structure and office holders, just likeany law-abiding organisation. It helps to provideleadership, accountability and basic composition.I don’t see how this would even remotely beconsidered criteria for identifying outlaw groups.Terminology: I am not aware of any terminologywe use that is not used by most any law-abidinggroup. I don’t use any terminology at BlueKnights events that I do not openly use at workas a police officer.Charity events: Yes, we have given millionsof dollars and tens of thousands of man-hoursto true charity organisations. As an OMCGinvestigator, I am aware this is something thebad guys have done of late, as a ruse to gainpublic support or improve their image. The BlueKnights have been doing good works for over 30years. Most of that charity money goes towardpolice survivors (widows and orphans of slainpolice officers) and other fraternal charitiesthat are close to our hearts. Charity starts athome. Our charity starts with causes that affectour brotherhood of law enforcement, as well asdisabled children, battered women, and variousprograms, to help our struggling communities.We are not going to stop participating inworthy charities just because the outlaws holda bogus “toy run” once a year.Secrecy: This is a new one to me. I havenever known the Blue Knights to be a secretclub or to hold any type of secrets (other thanmost personal addresses and home telephonenumbers). Our minutes are published regularly,we have a quarterly international newsletter,and most of our chapters have public websites.We are an open book. . .Enforcing discipline and obedience: We arean organisation of police officers, active andretired. We have our problems and have had ourshare of bad apples over the years, just like anypolice department with thousands of members.We have rules to enforce discipline and we holdto a high standard and a minor infraction thatcould lead to a letter of reprimand within mostany police agency could easily lead to dismissalfrom our club, and has.March 200649

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceThe oppression of females: Okay, I have to admit;I had to laugh at that one. Where do you guysget this stuff? Immediately I think of Ellen Smitand Connie Flanagan, who happen to be two ofthe finest, most intelligent and articulate womenI have ever known. Connie recently retired as aPolice Captain in Dover, Ohio, and is the currentInternational President of the Blue Knights. Ibelieve Ellen Smit is currently a senior criminalinvestigator for the CFIA in Ontario, Canada. Shewas the very first woman elected to the positionof Blue Knights’ International President, some12 years ago. It is worth mentioning that Conniewas elected in a landslide and has held nearlyevery office up the ranks to her current position.I am certain that these women would agree thatby-and-large, the Blue Knights have been moreaccepting of women than most police agencies.We don’t dress like thugs or act like thugs. Thereare those that think or believe anyone that rides amotorcycle is somehow a thug or a criminal.And lastly, this whole discussion brings up fiveissues of concern to me:1. While it may be better to be safe than sorry,we can’t keep labeling cops as criminals whenthey have done nothing unlawful, and expectpeople (both inside and outside our agencies)to believe in and rely upon the integrity of ourintelligence gathering.2. One should consider that it might be a goodthing that law-abiding police officers (thathappen to enjoy the safe and legal hobbyof recreational motorcycling) have anorganisation to participate in that they knowand can trust will not ever knowingly allowany criminal among their ranks.3. We all need to start focusing our energy onfighting the real bad guys and quit pointingfingers and starting fires within our ranks.This debate benefits no one but the bad guys.4. The Blue Knights need to work harder toeducate the public and other officers (andtheir agencies) as to who they are and whatthey truly represent.5. Those in Law Enforcement that havemisgivings about the Blue KnightsInternational Law Enforcement MotorcycleClub should actively take steps to properlystudy and investigate the organisationobjectively and without undue bias, beforeproclaiming or arguing them to be evenremotely like any OMCG (and in all fairness,if it is the case, after they conclude theirassumptions or suspicions were incorrect,they should swallow their pride and make anhonest and forthright effort to communicatetheir findings to others in the Gang Intelcommunity, as vigourously as they wouldhave trumpeted any findings to the contrary).Police News Editor Steve Plowman alsoresponds: Just to clarify. The notice, whichappeared in the December Police News, asking ifpolice officers who were motorcycle enthusiastswould be interested in joining the Blue Knights, isin no way an endorsement by the Police Associationof the Blue Knights. Police News publishes avariety of notices (about reunions, sports notices,history projects, surveys etc), which we feelmay be of interest to our members (who havea wide variety of interests) and it is for them toinvestigate the facts and make their own decisionsabout these matters. Your letter and the responsefrom Mark Howard raises an even larger issueof how much influence the Police administrationshould have on what individual police officers doin their own time if those interests do not bringthe Police service into disrepute. No doubt thatmay be of interest to other readers and we wouldwelcome their comments.Next Commissioner needs torethink staff allocationsIn 2005, the Police Association campaignedthrough its “Fund the Frontline” initiativefor an increase in sworn police numbers,seeking parity with comparable overseasenforcement agencies. While this was a welldirectedand considered approach, I wouldask if the same logic exists within the Police’sown management? My challenge to the newCommissioner is to nationally distribute staffaccording to the volume of crime reportedrather than on some historical, geographicalor population basis. Successive Commisionershave failed to tackle this hot potato, resultingin an uneven distribution of the workload.One needs to look no further thanChristchurch’s recently advertised vacancyfor a Detective/DC, which resulted in a floodof applicants (all of which were accepted)from the Auckland region to demonstrate theinequity that currently exists.However, there seems little hope of thisproblem being addressed when the sameproblem cannot or will not be addressedwithin a district, as exists in North Shore-Waitakere. While Detectives from the NorthShore are being used to temporarily fill“unfilled positions” within Waitakere, nothingis being done to redress the imbalance betweentotal staff numbers and the amount of crimereported.The likes of South Auckland have been underresourcedtoo long and someone has to standup and make some hard decisions. With a1000 new positions in the pipeline, let’s hopethe new Commissioner is up for it.Peter Litherland(Waitakere)Squandering of Police fundsI read with dismay in the Police News,December 2005, page 242 that the policeadministration are seeking leave to appeal adecision by the Employment Court that wouldenforce a current employment law awardingPolice members time and a half for workingpublic holidays much like the rest of NewZealand.It is interesting that an individual or group ofsenior managers within the New Zealand Policefeel that they have the right to effectively pickand choose which laws that they wish to abideby, and those that they wish to simply ignore.I also find it interesting that these managers feelso at ease squandering public money fightingthis cause. I would estimate at least $100,000in legal fees has been paid thus far appealinga decision, which the Police Management hasalready lost.The New Zealand Government who is an electedrepresentation of the populace of this country,make the law by which society abides. The NewZealand Police, a civil servant and employee ofthe government enforces those laws.The New Zealand Police have a duty toenforce these laws in a fair and non-prejudicialmanner. We do not have a choice about whichlaws we wish to abide by and those we wishto ignore. That is not what the governmentintended.For Police management to set this sort ofprecedent of ignoring government legislationraises very interesting questions.Can we as officers on the street now pickand choose which laws we wish to enforcesimply because we may not agree with themor because they might be a little too expensiveto enforce?Should Police management be squanderingpublic money that has been budgeted by thegovernment for law enforcement to pay forlegal fees opposing government legislation?Which senior manager will be held accountableonce the dust has settled and we have won ourbattle for the enforcement of the Holidays Act,for making the decision to squander hundredsof thousands of dollars paying legal fees whichcould have been put to better use fightingcrime?In an era where resources are stretched doesthis decision point to wise managerial decisionmaking,or the stubborn one up-man-ship ofindividuals?Tim TravissAucklandWho really broughtdiscredit to Police?A colleague recently showed me her adversereport she received from the ‘acting’ DistrictCommander in relation to four Email imageslinked to her identity between February 2003and September 2004 after she refused toaccept the alternative resolution process.These images show a set of testicles in avice (Australian Tax Department), a set ofsuperimposed penises attached to a male (MadCow disease), a set of genitals wearing a pairof glasses (Groucho Marx) and 10 reasons toquit drinking (persons in various drunkenstates not too unfamiliar to the writer). Prettyhumourous tame stuff really, considering thereal images we see in our Police careers.My colleague has been adjudged guilty ofdisgraceful conduct. She’s been advised thatthe report will remain on her personal file forfour years. She’s been told she impugned thereputation of the Police service and discreditedherself and her colleagues.For the record, the writer and the rest ofher CIB colleagues do not believe she hasimpugned the reputation of the Police nordiscredited herself or her colleagues.On the other hand, however, in my opinionit is the Police administration and anyone elseresponsible for Operation Insight that haveimpugned the reputation of the Police anddiscredited themselves with their ‘holier thanthou’ witch-hunt. If only such resources andeffort could be put into investigating seriouscrime but given the prosecution rate and50March 2006

investigative abilities shown during OperationInsight, perhaps the public is better off if thosemembers just stick to the trivial stuff.I suggest that perhaps the administration pickup a real file with real offenders rather thanpandering to political correctness. Finally, canI also suggest that those halo-bearing sandalwearers responsible for this debacle, cut thisarticle out and place it on their own personalfiles – indefinitely!Jason McIntosh(Henderson)Incremental payment anomaliesRecently, the administration touted the newsystem of rewarding officers who perform toa satisfactory level by an incremental paymenton the anniversary of your joining. Thisseemed to be a fair and equitable method forthose who do a good job and stay in the job,also known as “loyalty”. I believed that thiswas a very good way to hold on to people withmuch-needed, valuable experience.I believed it was so good that I expressly set outto ensure I was up to date with all my training,so that I would receive the increment, havingserved over 20 years.My joining date passed. No worries. Myemployers were a little slow but I trust them.Ten weeks later, no increase.So I phone Human Resources. Yes, it is confirmedthat I am up to date to date with my training.Yes, my anniversary date has just passed. Yes, Ishould qualify. They don’t know why it hasn’thappened. Wait, there is something odd here,you haven’t had a pay increase since February2003.Oh, just a moment, I see now, you are at theceiling for your level. No increment for you,you earn too much, sorry. Not even a lump sumpayment, like the old days.I asked how I could secure another pay increaseof any kind. The answer was to seek promotionor go into Youth Aid or CIB - in other words, goup a band or two.What worries me is this: I now no longer haveany reason to try to do a professional job, apartfrom my own professional pride in my abilityto do so. I will not receive any bouquets, onlybrickbats from politicians on down through tothe media, and even some of my own fellowofficers.I was convinced that my employers and myunion were trying to retain good experiencedstaff. Perhaps I was wrong, but I do not thinkso.I can offer no solutions to this quandary. I’mnot an expert in that field. I look to the Policeadministration and the Association to sort thisout.There will be others in the same boat. I did notrealise that I was missing out on a pay rise forover two and a half years. Check your pay slipnow. Is that why we no longer get them?This issue will only get worse over the nextfew years. I can see some long serving andexperienced staff choosing to leave rather thannot be rewarded for their loyalty and dedication.Not every police officer wants to, or will be,promoted. Some of us choose to serve ourcommunity by staying on the frontline.Are we to be ignored?Graeme Hammond(Te Kuiti)The cost of OperationInsight workshopsPerhaps the millions of dollars spent onOperation Insight were warranted.However, after recently completing the finalphase of my punishment via a day longworkshop, I would have to question whetherthese particular costs can be justified.To those that haven’t been to the workshop,here is a brief breakdown:(1) To date there have been over 20workshops throughout the country.(2) The groups are small. At the one Iattended there were 12 people present.(3) They involve three senior persons fromthe Office of the Commissioner.(4) Two psychologists, from an externalbusiness, provide the workshops.(5) The workshops are delivered at secretnon-Police venues. [A sumptuous meal isprovided]My very conservative estimate of each of theseworkshops would be in excess of $10,000each. This adds up well to well over $200,000nationwide.Surely, this money could have been put to betteruse.New Zealand Police AssociationPersonally, I would have thought that a 10 minutedressing down, with an overhead showing theappropriate GI’s relating to the use of Emailexplained fully, along with the endorsementof a contract stipulating that they were not tomisuse the Email system again, would have beensufficient. In my eyes, this would have been ableto be completed within an hour and would be ashow of strong, positive leadership.As it is, I came away from the eight-hourworkshop with a feeling that none of theimportant issues, which needed addressing,i.e. a full explanation of the relevant GI’s and adistinction drawn as to what is acceptable andwhat is not, were dealt with in any way.Finally, I feel I should also add that the potentiallyobjectionable: “Bulldogs Training Camp” imagethat I and at least six others allegedly forwardedto others was finally classified by the ChiefCensor as not being objectionable and, in fact,was described as “satirical humour”.Mark Riddell(Auckland)NZ Police women’sSoccer initiativeAmanda Cole is looking at organising theselection of a NZ Police women’s soccer teamto play in an initial one-off event later this year.Those who are interested in playing in this teamshould have experience at either a competitiveor semi-competitive level. It is expected thatthere will be many members who will wantto be involved. These members should emailAmanda by way of Lotus Notes and includea brief summary of their playing experience by16 April 2006.It is also hoped that enough players will beeager to participate in the World Police andFire Games in Adelaide 2007, again contactAmanda for details.Need sports uniforms?The Council of Sport is cleaning out the closet.Council Secretary, Ally Murray, has severalsets of uniforms and some surplus sportingequipment. If you are involved in a Policesports team and could use further equipmentgive Ally a ring on extension 43139 or atcouncilofsport@xtra.co.nzUseful Information & ContactsAssociation and Police Welfare Fund:Immediate industrial & legal advice0800 TEN NINE (0800 836 6463) (only formatters that cannot be deferred such as Policeshootings, fatal pursuits or deaths in custody).Police Network 44446 Website www.policeassn.org.nzFreephone 0800 500 122 Police Home Loans 0800 800 808Police Health Plan/Staffpac Insurance Police Credit Union 0800 429 000Quotes & information 0800 500 122 or (04) 472 9645or Fax (04) 496 6819 Credit Union www.policecu.org.nzStaffpac claims 0800 110 088 GSF information 0800 654 731All enquiries (04) 496 6800 PSS information 0800 777 243Vice PresidentsStuart Mills (027) 268 9416Richard Middleton (027) 268 9411Field OfficersNorthland and Auckland Districts: Stewart Mills (027) 268 9407Waikato, BOP and Eastern Districts: Eric Newman (027) 268 9408Central and Wellington Districts: JJ Taylor (027) 268 9409Tasman, Canterbury and Southern Districts: Dave McKirdy (027) 268 9410Regional DirectorsRegion One Steve Hawkins Whangaparoa (027) 268 9419Region Two Mark Leys Papatoetoe (027) 268 9413Region Three Mel Ridley Tauranga (027) 268 9414Region Four Chris Cahill Napier (027) 268 9415Region Five Ron Lek Wellington (027) 268 9417Region Six Craig Prior Sumner (027) 268 9412Region Seven Dave Steel North Dunedin (027) 268 9418March 200651

Police Health Plan offers a great range of benefits to help protect the health of Policemembers and their families, with levels of cover tailored to your budget.You can select different levels of protection for each family member, depending ontheir needs. Choose from:• ‘In Hospital’ cover, which provides for the costs of surgery;• ‘Basic’, which covers the cost of surgery and basic general medical costs; or• ‘Comprehensive’, which covers surgery, general medical costs and optical, phsiotherapy, dental andaudiology treatment*.Other benefits include* ...• Public Hospital cash benefi t.• Funding for overseas organ transplants (for heart, lung, liver).• Sterilisation - available after 3 years of continuous cover.• Cover for CT, MRI scans and other imaging performed by a medical practitioner (some limits apply,depending on the plan taken).• Infertility treatment - available after 3 years of continuous cover (comprehensive scheme only).• Paying for a maximum number of children per family with the rest covered at no extra cost.• Friendly personal service.• Effi cient claims turnaround - We aim to have all claims received processed within 10 working days.*Exclusions, conditions and limits to amounts payable apply. See Police Health Plan Benefi ts and Subscriptions forfuller details of coverage.Independently owned and operated by Police Health Plan Limited, the scheme is non-profit andall surpluses are put back into ensuring that members have access to one of the best valuehealth insurance policies available in New Zealand.For more information call the Police Health Plan0800 500 122or visit our website: www.policeassn.org.nz