Today, nine dog handlers, and six dogs, will graduate from the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre after a number of hard weeks of training.
Four Police Patrol handlers, one Police Detector handler, two New Zealand Customs handlers and two Pacific Island police handlers will be graduating in a ceremony in Trentham at 2.00pm.
Experience between the four police patrol handlers spans over 18 years with Constable James Seales graduating from the Dog Training Centre for the first time with Police Dog Janko, and Senior Constable Al Munro graduating with his sixth police dog, Ulric.
Police detector dog Orla is also graduating with handler Sergeant Phil Kahotea who has 25 years experience behind him in the Dog Section, most recently as the Officer in Charge of the Northland District Dog Section.
This graduation we also have two Pacific Island handlers graduating, with Constable Sione Punaivaha from the Tongan Police and Customs Officer Moimoi Tauave from Customs in Samoa.
His Excellency Mr Leasi Papali’I Tommy Scanlan, Samoan High Commissioner and Ms Carolyn Tremain, Comptroller of Customs, will be joining Mr John Bole, Deputy Chief Executive: Finance, and Inspectors Mike McIlraith and Brendon Gibson from New Zealand Police for the graduation.
ENDS
Media intending to be present at the graduation should plan to be onsite by 1.30pm.
Please direct all enquiries or intentions to attend to:
Mere Wilson Tuala-Fata
Public Affairs, New Zealand Police
021 192 2918
OR
Amy Stewart-Badger
Public Affairs, New Zealand Police
021 192 2906
