Thirty-six new police officers will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College tomorrow in Wing 248.
Topping the wing and also taking the prize for practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting is Yang Cao, who emigrated from Shanghai, China just six years ago. Yang achieved the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) level necessary to enrol at university and then completed a Bachelor of Business Studies, at Massey University, majoring in Finance. He worked for a food manufacturing business before deciding he wanted a more exciting life and began the recruiting process to join NZ Police.
Yang is a success story for NZ Police's pilot Precep programme, which has been trialled in Auckland since April 2007. The programme identifies applicants who show potential to be effective police officers but who for one reason or another may not be ready to begin the 19-week training course at the RNZPC. Aimed particularly at Police's target recruitment audience, the programme identifies applicants from Maori, Pacific and Asian communities as well as women and youth, and helps sets them up for success when they do join the College. Precep is a work-placement programme and in Yang's case helped him to improve his understanding of the NZ working environment.
Yang says that through the Precep programme he was able to learn first-hand what policing was about and is more confident interacting with the public. Having spent two weeks at the College as part of the programme he says he settled in easily when he arrived for training in October last year and will be returning to the Mt Wellington Station where he is already part of the team.
Wing 248 has enjoyed tremendous support through their training period from their patron, academic and former captain of the New Zealand Black Ferns women's rugby team, Dr Farah Palmer. (see below for more about the Wing Patron)
The graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 6 March 2008 at 2:00pm and will be attended by Deputy Commissioner Lyn Provost.
36 recruits will graduate - 26 males and 10 females
The average age of wing members is 28 (the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 46)
To find out more about joining the Police, phone: 0800 NEW COPS (639 2677) or visit: www.newcops.co.nz
District postings:
Northland - Kerikeri (1), Kaitaia (1)
Waitematâ - (6) stations not available
Auckland City - (5) stations not available
Counties Manukau - (6) stations not available
Waikato - Hamilton (2), Te Kuiti (1)
Eastern - Wairoa (1), Hawkes Bay (1)
Central - Wanganui (1), Palmerston North (1), Taumaranui (1)
Wellington - (5) stations not available
Canterbury - Christchurch (3)
Southern - Dunedin (2), Gore (1), Invercargill (1)
Wing 248 prize winners:
• The Minister's Prize for First in Wing will be awarded to Constable Yang CAO, posted to Mt Wellington.
Constable Cao will also be awarded the ERICSSON Practical Prize for the overall winner of practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting.
• The Commissioner's Prize for Second in Wing will be awarded to Constable Harold HUGHES, posted to Wellington.
• The Patron's Prize for Third in Wing will be awarded to Constable Alison WILSON, posted to HENDERSON.
• The International Police Association Academic Prize (for overall academic achievement) will be awarded to Constable Jane MALEY, posted to Christchurch.
Constable Maley will also be awarded the Driver Training Award.
• The HOLDEN Tactical Skills and Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) will be awarded to Constable Patrick CRAWLEY, posted to Henderson.
Constable Crawley will also be awarded the Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training.
• The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award will be awarded to Constable Trevor WALLIS, posted to Orewa.
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 Glenn JAPETH, posted to Wellington
Section Two Constable Doris TA'ALA, posted to the Mobile Policing Station, Auckland.
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**Wing Patron - Dr Farah Palmer
Dr Palmer, with a BPhEd (Hons) degree and a PhD in Sports Sociology is a senior lecturer in sports management and coaching at Massey University.
While a student at Otago University, she was selected to play as hooker for the Black Ferns for the New Zealand vs Australia test in 1996. She went on to captain them in 31 test matches and three consecutive World Cup victories. She retired from rugby in 2006 after 9 years in the captaincy and in 2007 was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the New Year's Honours for services to women's rugby and sport.
Since retiring from playing rugby, Farah has used her celebrity status to raise awareness about equal opportunities for sportswomen and challenge the state of 'chauvinism' in sports media.
She is a trustee of Tu Toa Trust, a programme for Mâori youth with potential in sport and education, and with Duff Books in Homes. She has a mentoring role with Te Puni Kôkiri, in which she uses her experiences and skills to benefit Mâori women and youth, especially in the areas of sport and education.
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For more information or media wishing to attend the graduation please contact:
Katrina Graham, Communications Adviser - 04 238 3572 or 0274 419 216
ENDS