Carmen Stewart

Constable Carmen Stewart has been a member of New Zealand Police since 2007.

Before joining Police, Carmen had a varied career. She started as a St John Ambulance Service Volunteer before becoming a full-time member in 1995. She then became a funeral director and embalmer. She credits these jobs with shaping her choice of policing as a career as they sparked a desire to be there for families at times of tragedy.

Since joining Police Carmen has worked in a variety of roles, including emergency response, traffic and watch house. In 2009 she became an Inquest Officer, with responsibility for managing police enquiries on behalf of the Coroner, representing Police at ordinary and special Inquest hearings, liaising with the various industries relating to deaths and liaising with the families of the deceased. Inquest Officers are also the ‘go-to’ police officers for advice and guidance for frontline staff and they help provide frontline police training.

Through her work as an Inquest Officer she has been involved in the evolution of the current Wellington District inquest team and has helped identify areas for improvement in the inquest process at a national level.

Carmen's Christian faith is exemplified in her active life at The Rock Church. Recently she and Superintendent Anna Jackson were invited to the morning service at the Cathedral of St Paul to talk about faith in the workplace. Carmen drew inspiration from her work with families, sharing a testimony about humility, mercy and the increasing acceptance of compassion as a cornerstone of policing.

Carmen is based at Wellington Central Police Station.