A Nauru policewoman with only five years service has won a Pacific policing award for her leadership and development achievements.
She's Acting Superintendent Kalinda Blake, who performs the dual role in Nauru Police as head of Operations and Operations Support, and officer in charge of Training and Development.
The Chairman of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Award to Ms Blake was announced today at the PICP conference attended by 18 Police Chiefs in Wellington, New Zealand. It was accepted on her behalf by Commissioner Robert Lehmann, head of the Nauru police. The award presentation itself will be made in Nauru.
Ms Blake has had a meteoric rise in ranks since joining Nauru Police in February, 2002. She was the first female officer and the first police officer from Nauru to pass certificates and diplomas in workplace training and development. Her skills and achievements have led to rapid promotion to the executive of Nauru's predominantly male police service. Ms Blake, mother to a young family, has also facilitated and delivered training sessions to police officers in six other countries throughout Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia. Earlier this year Ms Blake was appointed as a member of the recruitment selection panel for a government initiative to select seasonal employer scheme members destined for New Zealand.
As head of training and development for Nauru Police, Ms Blake was involved with the first recruit training course for Nauru Police this year, the first commissioned officer's course for Nauru and with the planning of a non commissioned/senior constable course due to be run next year.
PICP Chairman, the Director of Palau Bureau of Public Safety, Hazime Telei, said Ms Blake has made an outstanding contribution to the development of her own police service, and other nations in the Pacific.
"Kalinda's professionalism and commitment to improving police services in her home country and elsewhere in the Pacific is exemplary," he said. "I'm sure news of Kalinda's success will be warmly welcomed in Nauru, and by colleagues across the Pacific who have received her training support."
This is the first time in the three-year history of the award that it has been won by a female officer.
Commissioner Robert Lehmann, Nauru Police, said the award is fantastic news for Acting Superintendent Blake, her Nauru colleagues and women police in the Pacific region.
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Released by: Kaye Calder, Wellington Police District communications manager,
tel: 04 496 3464 or 0274 373 020. Email: kaye.calder@police.govt.nz