The first constables to graduate from Police College in 2006 include three who were previously non-sworn staff.
Their wing of 78 will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua on Thursday 9 March, 2:00pm.
The transition to become a sworn police officer has been worth every minute of the 19 week live-in course for Constables Alice MacCormick, Rhonda Reid and Christine Rump.
Constable MacCormick, who holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in commerce and management, has previously worked as a policy analyst with Police. "Becoming a sworn officer is something I've thought about for some time. I'm really looking forward to frontline work, dealing with people and not working in an office!" She is being posted to Lower Hutt.
Constable Reid, who is being posted to Otahuhu, has already been with Counties Manukau Police for 23 years! She has worked taking public complaints, fingerprinting and in the Intelligence area, but it was time for a challenge and a change. "My previous work with Police will undoubtedly help, but the job of a police officer is different. I'm learning lots of new skills."
Constable Rump, who is being posted to New Plymouth, has worked for Taranaki Police in a variety of roles over the past 12 months and for a period 10 years ago. "I've always liked the camaraderie I've seen and the variety of career opportunities in Police."
Tomorrow's graduation will be the last for Acting Police Commissioner Steve Long, who will retire on the appointment of a new Commissioner.
78 recruits will graduate, 58 male and 20 female
The average age of wing members is 28 (the youngest is 19 and the oldest is 40)
Postings:
Northland: Kawakawa (1), Whangarei (1)
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney: Henderson (5), Orewa (2), Takapuna (4)
Auckland City: Auckland Central (8), Mount Wellington (8), Newmarket (2)
Counties Manukau: Manurewa (3), Otahuhu (14), Papakura (1), Pukekohe (1)
Waikato: Hamilton (2), Te Awamutu (1)
Bay of Plenty: Tauranga (1)
Central: New Plymouth (3), Palmerston North (1), Wanganui (2)
Wellington: Lower Hutt (2), Masterton (1), Traffic Alcohol Group Wellington (1), Upper Hutt (1),
Tasman: Greymouth (1)
Canterbury: Christchurch (6)
Southern: Dunedin (2), Gore (1), Invercargill (1), Oamaru (1), Queenstown (1)
Wing 229 prize winners:
* Minister’s Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Rebecca MITCHELL posted to Dunedin.
Constable MITCHELL was also awarded the International Police Association Academic Prize (overall winner for academic exams) and a Section Prize (see below).
* Commissioner’s Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Richard CHAMBERS posted to Christchurch.
* Patron’s Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Timothy CAMERON posted to Wanganui.
* The Ericsson Practical Prize (overall winner for practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting) was awarded to Constable Matthew STONE posted to New Plymouth.
* The HOLDEN Tactical Skills and Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) was awarded to Constable Simon POTTER posted to Otahuhu.
* The Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training was awarded to Constable Gareth HUGHES, posted to Palmerston North.
* The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award was awarded to Constable Raymond ARROW posted to Auckland Central.
* The Driver Training Award was awarded to Constable Dylan HANNAH-JONES, posted to Mt Wellington.
Police Association prizes for section achievement:
This prize is awarded to an individual from each section who, in the collective view of the members of the section and the wing instructors, made the greatest contribution to the overall success of the team.
Section One, Constable Deborah LEAHY posted to Henderson
Section Two, Constable Rebecca MITCHELL posted to Dunedin
Section Three, Constable Natasha RODLEY posted to Otahuhu
Section Four, Constable Sander ZUIDERDUIN posted to Papakura
Wing Patron: Ian Ferguson
Ian Ferguson is the only New Zealander to have competed in five Olympic Games and his achievements as a kayaker are among the most memorable in New Zealand sporting history. On the Centenary of the Olympic Movement in 1996, he was named New Zealand Olympian of the Century. Since retiring, he has built up his kayak business, Fergs Kayaks, and is involved in coaching current New Zealand kayak champion Ben Fouhy.
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For more information or to attend graduation please contact:
Toni Barlow, Communications Adviser, 04 238 3413 / 0274 419 216