National figure-skating champion, Christie Gilliver, is among 67 constables graduating from The Royal New Zealand Police College tomorrow.
Christie, who will be posted to Hamilton, has taken time off from her rigorous training schedule for the Oceania and World Skating Championships next year to undergo the 19-week recruit training course.
Already Christie has several titles to her name including the 2004 National Oceania Precision Champion and 2005 World Squad Champion in Precision, Area Precision and Advanced Ladies Loops. However, this year she has concentrated on fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a police officer.
The roller-skating champion, who is used to practising six times a week, nonetheless managed to fit in some skating training during the Police College course in preparation for the 2007 Championships in Australia.
Although she will not start her position as an officer until the week after next, she is confident that she will be able to slip easily between her two roles of roller champ and general duties constable.
"I guess it gives me a chance to express different parts of myself. There's a huge difference in the two careers, going from tight lycra to duty belt is quite a change. Skating has always been a big part of my life, now I just need to work out when skating ends for the day and when policing starts," she says.
Members of Wing 233 participated in a variety of operational activities during their training, including the homicide investigation Operation Red Rocks. During the investigation recruits conducted area enquiries and took statements from members of the public.
-¢ 67 recruits will graduate -" 50 males and 17 females
-¢ The average age of wing members is 29 (the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 45)
The graduation will take place on Thursday 5 October at 2:00pm.
Postings:
Northland - Whangarei (1), Kaikohe (1), Kaitaia (1)
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney - Henderson (3), Orewa (1)
Auckland City - (1), Mount Wellington (3), Avondale (3)
Counties Manukau - Manurewa (2), Papakura (1), Howick (1), Otahuhu (1)
Waikato - Hamilton (3)
Bay of Plenty - Tauranga (7)
Central - Stratford (2), Wanganui (1)
Eastern - Hawke's Bay (4), Whakatane (2), Gisborne (1)
Wellington - Wellington (3), Lower Hutt (1), Porirua (3)
Canterbury - Christchurch (16)
Southern - Dunedin (3), Invercargill (1), Queenstown (1)
Wing 233 prize winners:
-¢ Minister-s Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Jason HEWITT posted to Avondale.
Constable HEWITT was also awarded the International Police Association Academic Prize.
-¢ Commissioner-s Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Courtney SANDILANDS posted to Christchurch.
Constable SANDILANDS was also awarded the Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training.
-¢ Patron-s Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Martin DAVIES posted to Otahuhu.
-¢ The Holden Tactical Skills and Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) was awarded to Constable Adam KRAUS posted to Christchurch.
-¢ The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award was awarded to Constable Jane GOWANS posted to Napier.
-¢ The Driver Training Award was awarded to Constable Anthony TEMPLE posted to Stratford.
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 Martyn BAYLY posted to Auckland City
Section Two Constable Waata HEATHCOTE posted to Whakatane
Section Three Constable Toni SANDERSON posted to Stratford
Section Three Constable Kellie OSBORNE posted to Henderson
Wing Patron:
Mayor Michael McEvedy has been Mayor of Selwyn for 11 years and has presided over a district that has experienced 30% population growth during his tenure. As a past Director of St John, he did considerable work to modernise the Regional Ambulance Service and extend the service to Mid Canterbury, the West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough after taking over from Hospital Board services. Michael has worked closely with police at all levels in Canterbury and has a good relationship with police management. He has a daughter and a son-in-law who have served in the Police in Christchurch.
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For more information or to attend graduation please contact:
Amanda Herrick, Communications Adviser - 04 238 3413 / 0274 419 216