NZPA News September - New Zealand Police Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

September 2003New Zealand Police Association NewsletterLetters to the Editor Write It Here! Letters to the Editor are welcome.Signed letters are preferred, but in all cases the writer’s name and address must be supplied. Names will bepublished unless there is a good reason for anonymity. The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or declineletters without explanation. Write to: editor@policeassn.org.nz or post it to the Editor at PO Box 12344,Wellington. Letters under 350 words are preferred.Going to bat foryour staffOver the last few months Counties-Manukau staff have been activelyhunting an escaped prisoner namedElijah Waterman. Waterman was on anumber of active charges at thetime he escaped, includingpresenting a firearm.Recently, a situation developedwhich resulted in the tyres of avehicle that Waterman was drivingbeing shot at by a couple ofCounties-Manukau staff, at the timeWaterman was in possession of afirearm.The obvious media circus eruptedwith commentators and journalistsalike, criticising the staff involvedwithout having a full and informedaccount of what happened.Because of the comments beingmade in the media, I thought it hadthe potential to be made into amajor incident unless someonestood up and told the media how itwas. For that reason I was pleasedto hear that Detective InspectorSteve Rutherford was going to beinvestigating the shooting. TheInspector very quickly said that theofficers actions were justified, endof story.He was then interviewed again inresponse to Waterman makingallegations, through his lawyer, thatthe officers involved were in factshooting at him and he had thebullet holes in his car to prove it. Inresponse Inspector Rutherford said:“Of course he’s got a differentversion of events - he’s a criminal.If we’ve hit the car, we’ve hit thecar - so what? That was the end ofthat line of questioning.I believe that the sort of backing,support and leadership that theofficers involved got from InspectorRutherford is exactly the sort ofleadership that is missing from theNZ Police at the moment. He stoodup for his troops immediately, notjust in private but in the media. Ican just imagine what could havesnowballed had he not done so. A134year earlier, in another incident, hehad also stood up for his staff.If we had more ‘managers’ aroundlike Inspector RUTHERFORD thatwere willing to put their reputationon the line for their troops when itmattered, instead of worrying whatthe PC brigade would think aboutour actions, it could only be a goodthing for morale.Adrian Davie(Wiri)Thanks for thewelcomeFirstly, a big thank you to PaulDevane for his kind words in therecent issue of “Police News”. I’m sureI spent an enjoyable evening down atWellington with Paul watchingEngland thrash Australia, which willeventually bring me nicely to thepoint of my letter.The front cover of the recent editionshowed me (actually I’m the headlessone far left) and fellow members ofWing 212 performing the ‘UK Haka’.Brilliant though it was to see thepicture, I have to put the recordstraight. Not all of the British Wing ismade up of former ‘London Bobbies’.If we were we’d all be struttingaround quoting such timeless piecesfrom The Bill or The Sweeney, as:“There’s been a blagging Guv” and“Do what John, you’re ‘aving alaugh”.No, Mr Editor, we the British Wingconsist of more than just the Met.Take another look at that front row.Far right, well OK he was in the Met,but he’s Scottish so that doesn’tcount, next to him a ManchesterUnited fan. To his right a Wiltshirelad (it’s near Devon, you go throughit to get to Cornwall), at his side, OKso it’s another London officer, but hewas air support so probably spentmore time over Northern Francepicking up duty free wine and so on.There are representatives of almostevery force in Great Britain.Saying that all officers in the UKWing are former ‘London Bobbies’ islike you stating that England is thetrue home of Rugby. Actually thereyou do have a valid point.To my new colleagues like PaulDevane and all of the other staffmembers at Counties-Manukau, whohave made what is a life-changingmove so much easier, I say thankyou. We do bring massive experience,we are highly-motivated and somemight say we have a good sense ofhumour....Mark Bond(Pukekohe)Thanks for putting the recordstraight re the London ‘Bobbies’reference Mark, my apologies. As forEngland being the home of worldrugby - William Webb Ellis wouldcertainly agree, and who am I toargue with William. Whether it willbe the home of the next World Cupholders however, is debatable andthe not-too-distant future will giveus an answer to that one. Welcometo New Zealand and to you and yourcolleagues all the best. - Editor.Not feeling sowelcomeI read the letter by Paul Devane inyour August issue, with sadness andanger. I am the wife of one of the UKpolice officers that Mr Devane sokindly refers to.If only all of the Auckland staff feltthe same (I cannot speak for theManukau staff). My husband hasmany years experience in a very busyarea of London before we immigratedto New Zealand permanently. He hasbeen sorely missed by those on histeam who he led, many of whom weare still in touch with.At time of writing my husband hasbeen at work in Auckland for a monthand I have never seen him sodepressed. For the first time in the 10years I have known him he is talkingabout resigning from the Policecompletely because he is so fed up.The reason (apart from the ridiculousamounts of bureaucracy andpaperwork) - is that many of thepolice officers that Mr Devanebelieved would welcome the UK
New Zealand Police Association NewsletterSeptember 2003police officers with open arms,appear to have done their best tomake my husband and several otherofficers feel completely undervalued.Comments such as: “You need toforget everything you know aboutbeing a police officer in England andremember that you are the new boyhere”, made by an officer with sixmonths service! Funny, I thought theNew Zealand Police recruited myhusband from the other side of theplanet because of his experience.“If only”(Auckland)Political posturing?I would be interested in theAssociation’s reaction to the calls byNZ First leader, Winston Peters,regarding “doubling [current] policenumbers”.I believe issues like this should firstinvolve wide consultation with therespective agencies, and I’mconcerned Mr Peters is moreinterested in capitalising on thePolice ‘brand-name’ than making anyobvious improvements to the service.I understand if the Association isn’table, or prepared, to make any public‘on-the-record’ comments regardingthe plan.Robert Davies(Hamilton)There is a clear need for more policeofficers and while this is asomewhat arbitrary figure it doesacknowledge that the smart partieswill need to understand the publicneed more police - Editor.A job extremely welldoneThis is a letter of special thanks tothe Police Association and inparticular Kathy Drysdale and theIndustrial team.I was involved in an off-duty incidentwith a member of the public and twodays later an alleged assaultcomplaint was laid against me. Whenassault could not be substantiatedthe management decided to chargeme with disorderly behaviour and forswearing in general conversation in abar.Ten months later after varioushearings, I was dismissed from thePolice.The Association then kindly took upmy case and a Personal Grievance wasmade to the Employment Tribunal.This was heard on 24 February andpart way through the hearing wewent into mediation and settledoutside the Employment Tribunal’sjurisdiction.In the past, like many other policeofficers, I have been critical of theway the Association has handled payrounds etc. There have beencomments of collusion and being inbed with the administration, tomention a few. I can verify that thisis far from the truth and that a BerlinWall is very much in existencebetween the two.The effort and work Kathy and herteam put into my case was nothingshort of outstanding. They wereprofessional, understanding, caring,informative and thoughtful. Kathy’sdedication and commitment to whatshe thought was right was theultimate corner stone of our case. Wewill be forever grateful.Unfortunately, as long as the Policehave some of the people in the topadministrative positions making thedecisions they are, the PoliceAssociation will always have amultitude of work with great cost toeveryone.The only re-assurance the membershave is that you have an excellenthard working team representing you.If you are ever unfortunate enough tobe in the position I found myself in,rest assured you will be in safehands.We wish you all the best for thefuture and hope that you won’t bekept too busy - but I know that willnot be the case.Pat, Kirsty, Travis, Luke, Karn,Frazer, Paige and Grace Heavey(Hastings)In reply: Constable Jafa (Auckland)- Your letter is appreciated butnom-de-plumes will only be printedif a valid name and address issupplied. - Editor.New Crime FightingTool?Dave McIntosh thought he haddiscovered a new idea with the JAFAsinsisting people come in to theirstation to report theft ex-car(despite the car being immobilisedby the theft) - wrong!I have seen this before, elsewhere.In the short term it is great for thoseon short-term annual contracts(where “customer focus” has adifferent meaning to the rest of theworld). But, it doesn’t work in thelonger term. Talk to anyone in theinsurance industry.The policy gives people a “we don’tcare” message. Not just the victimsbut also our staff and the crims.Eventually, because of the perceptionthat develops, offending increases tothe point where ‘the stats’ get sohigh they have to be addressed byproper police action. (Unfortunately,by then we are a couple of annualtarget contracts on).Only one small group of society reallybenefits - the car security industry.The practice is neither new, nor realcrime reduction - just the timehonouredtradition of ‘stats farming’.Noel Bigwood(Palmerston North)A hard act tofollowJohn Jameson is the unitmanager of the North MidlandsHelicopter Support Unit, whichcovers the Nottinghamshire andDerby police areas.The former Inspector makes alarge number of presentationsto various groups telling of thework of the Police helicoptersquad. He uses Power Pointslides, interspersed with factsand figures and video clips.Wearing his flight overalls andcarrying his flight helmet herecently attended a communityhall in Alfreton Derby to give apresentation to 70 youngpeople. As he approached thehall he could hear a lot ofscreaming and shouting andmasses of five to ten-year-oldsseemed to be running amok.Becoming rather alarmed, heasked a group of adults whetherhe had arrived at the wrongplace. “Oh no”, came the reply“your act is on next - after themagicians and clowns”.135
Page 1: New Zealand Police Association News
Page 7 and 8: New Zealand Police Association News
Page 10 and 11: September 2003New Zealand Police As
Page 14 and 15: September 2003By Ricky CollinsA loo
Page 20: Police Home LoansSeptember 2003New

NZPA News September - New Zealand Police Association

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?