Thirty-eight new constables will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College in Wing 289 tomorrow. Their wing patron is the former Commissioner of Police, Mr Peter Marshall CNZM.
Wing 289 graduating constables have come to The Royal New Zealand Police College from all over the country, and all over the world. They join New Zealand Police with a broad range of backgrounds and life achievements. Some former occupations include a company director, ski patrol dispatcher, baby sitter, construction labourer, drain layer, health and fitness coordinator, and legal secretary.
There is an international flavour to the wing with members’ countries of birth spanning the globe, including India, England, South Korea, China, Scotland, Canada and Australia.
From taking the calls to answering them
From her time as a ski patrol dispatcher and medical emergency responder in Canada and her role as a communicator/dispatcher at New Zealand Police’s Southern Communications Centre, graduating Constable Kara Paterson knows what it’s like to deal with tricky situations.
In 2012, Constable Paterson received a National Manager’s Commendation after dealing with one of those tricky situations, and regards it as one of her proudest moments, alongside graduating from The Royal New Zealand Police College.
While working as a communicator, Constable Paterson received a non-speech 111 emergency call. During the phone call she heard a woman sobbing and saying she hadn’t called police. After the caller wouldn’t give her name, Constable Paterson ran the phone number and found out there had been previous violence associated with the person at the end of the line.
A man then took the phone, stated all was fine and hung up abruptly. Constable Paterson insisted a police unit be sent to the address, where they found the victim unconscious. They started CPR and she survived.
“It’s surreal to know my actions that day helped save a person’s life. Often you make your decisions on your gut feelings, and I’m glad mine were right that day,” says Constable Paterson. “This event definitely reinforced my want to become a New Zealand Police officer and my goal to help my community in any way I can.”
Constable Paterson is being posted to Canterbury District.
Leaving the desk behind
It’s a good thing New Zealand Police have gone mobile for new Constable Matthew Wailling. As a company director in the UK it took a boring conference speaker to get him thinking about his career and where it was going.
“Sitting in the conference hall, I started to think back to my aspirations as a teenager of wanting to do something different with my life and help make a difference,” says Constable Wailling. “I started to think that maybe I had been setting the wrong career goals for myself over the years.”
During a trip to New Zealand in 2007 his wife planted the seed of a move to the other side of the world.
Constable Wailling and his family made the move to New Zealand in 2013 and his application process with Police began.
“I saw this as my chance to realise my dream of embarking on a new life where I can serve the community I am so happy to be a part of. So perhaps that London conference wasn’t so boring after all.”
Constable Wailling has been awarded the Commissioner’s Award for Leadership, which is given in recognition of outstanding potential to lead self and others.
Constable Wailling is being posted to Wellington District.
Wing 289 award winners:
The Minister’s Award for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Liam Platt-Young, posted to Canterbury. This award recognises the top student after the collation of all course assessments.
The Patron’s Award for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Kayleen Jones, posted to Waitemata. This award recognises the second top student after the collation of all course assessments.
The Commissioner’s Award for Leadership (in recognition of outstanding potential to lead self and others) was awarded to Constable Matthew Wailling, posted to Wellington.
The Prevention Award (for demonstration of operational skills and prevention practices) was awarded to Constable Luke Seymour, posted to Wellington.
The Response Award (for demonstration of safe practices and tactical skills) was awarded to Constable Scott Matheson, posted to Canterbury.
Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 12 February at 1.30pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Police, Hon. Michael Woodhouse, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Grant Nicholls and Patron Mr Peter Marshall CNZM, along with members of the Police Executive.
ENDS
Media intending to be present at the graduation should plan to be onsite by 1.00pm.
Please direct all enquiries or intentions to attend to:
Nic Barkley
Communications Manager
The Royal New Zealand Police College
Nicholas.Barkley@police.govt.nz
04 979 4507 or 021 192 2813
