If Wairoa’s new Area Response Manager was in any doubt the role would keep him busy, his first few weeks in the job have confirmed his thoughts.
Senior Sergeant Scott Leighton started in the role amid June’s devastating floods. A month on and he’s already blown away with how his staff and the local community roll up their sleeves and muck in to help wherever they can.
Scott was born and bred in Wellington, moving to Gisborne in 2002. He joined Police in 2010 and has been working in Gisborne since, mainly on the front line. He’s spent the past few years in the rural policing space, working in Ruatoria and as a rural sergeant for the Gisborne area.
Some may know Scott from his rugby playing days for Wellington, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay (he captained HB on his debut against Scotland) and Poverty Bay, as well as professionally overseas. He played more than 100 games of rugby at first-class level from 2000 to 2013 and captained the national Heartland XV.
“I liken my policing career to my rugby career. I started off in a larger centre and moved on to the smaller areas,” says Scott.
His love of rugby will be welcome in Wairoa, with many locals attending Scott’s mihi whakatau at Taiwhenua Ngati Kahungunu commenting on his rugby prowess and the importance of the game to the local community.
Scott says he sees plenty of synergies between rugby and policing.
“In my younger years footy was always my priority, but I have come to understand I can get the same rewards from policing and working with my team.”
Scott is no stranger to Wairoa, having relieved in the town on several occasions. That means many of the local police staff already know him.
“We have a great team here in Wairoa, they all choose to live and work in Wairoa.”
Scott and his team are keen to promote the benefits of living and working in Wairoa and look at opportunities to recruit staff into the area.
He replaces Senior Sergeant Maui Aben who has transferred to Porirua as Area Prevention Manager.