Push yourself! Behind the white picket fence - A cop's story of a childhood marred by family violence - Police Association
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JUNE 2018
Push
yourself!
Women wanted for
Protection Services training
Behind the white picket fence...
A cop’s story of a childhood marred by family violence
Contents
6 Family harm from
the inside 10 Role model and
award winner
14 Pushing through 13 Walter’s Wonders
4 Budget jackpot: Extra police targeted at organised 13 Walter’s Wonders: 60th reunion of the Walter Regulars
crime Nash Cadet Wing
20 Brain Teaser
4 The right stuff: Get your nominations in for this 14 Cover story 20 Keen on Beer
year’s Bravery Awards
16 The Tech Files: Roadside saliva testing for drugs 21 Keen on Wine
5 Firearms data: Police seeks to improve its records
16 2018 AGM calendar 25 Letters
6 Family harm: Behind the white picket fence… a
police officer shares her story 17 Between the Lines: Membership hacks from the 27 Memorial Wall
Member Services Centre team 27 Contacts
9 Iam Keen
17 Ask Your Aunty
10 Sally Morrison: Police Association Sport
Administrator of the Year 18 Most Wanted: The United States National Law COVER: Sergeant Karen
Enforcement Museum; book review; Winter Ellis, who completed the
11 Welfare Fund updates: Look out for these
Games information
tough Protection Services
changes combined AOS selection
course, with the jerry can
12 Keeping you in the loop: Pay round 2018; 22 Sport: Sports Diary; surfing
she used during training.
Association rule change proposed. 24 Postcards from… Te Anau Photo: ELLEN BROOK
June 2018 Police News is the magazine of the Printed by City Print Communications, Wellington.
New Zealand Police Association, originally
ISSN 1175-9445 This publication is printed on environmentally
the New Zealand Police Journal, first
responsible paper stock, sourced from
published in 1937.
Published by the sustainable forests, and uses vegetable-based
New Zealand Police Opinions expressed are not necessarily inks. The blue wrap envelope is biodegradable
Association those of the Association. and recyclable.
Those wishing not to receive a personal © NZPA Police News must not be reproduced
P.O. Box 12344, copy of Police News should contact the in part or as a whole without the formal consent
57 Willis St editor (editor@policeassn.org.nz) to be of the copyright holder – the New Zealand
Wellington 6144 removed from the distribution list. Police Association.
2 | JUNE 2018
NEWS AND VIEWS
from the
President
Policing on
display 18 C
onfirmation of the Government’s
commitment to 1800 extra
police and 485 Police employees
cost increases of 8-12 per cent and
primary medical increases of 3-4 per cent.
This medical inflation reflects the soaring
was great to see in the Budget. costs of pharmaceuticals, hospital stays,
Like any promises, of course, the proof new technologies and specialists, with
is in the keeping, and the Association has some orthopaedic procedures, such as
no intention of sitting back and relaxing spinal, exceeding $100,000 per procedure.
when the physical and mental safety of There is no way of avoiding this inflation,
our members is at stake. but the board is determined, wherever
Although the allocation of 700 of the possible, to return excess reserves to
new officers to organised crime has members. Therefore, we will introduce
raised a few eyebrows, the reality is that increases in benefits, including a doubling
24
gangs and drugs are large drivers of all of the dental allowance and increasing the
Postcards from... crime. This bold move has the potential overnight hospital bed rate up to $750 a
Te Anau to be a game changer if the resources are night.
deployed appropriately. With Police Fire & General, the
The Association will be watching the Association has not increased the rates
use of up to 300 authorised officers (AOs) for three years, but the time has come for
working as specialist investigators to make us to accept the reality of inflation across
sure their roles comply with the intentions the sector. While actual home policy
of the Policing Act. increases will be determined by specific
As with all Budgets, this one took heat location risks, we have restricted contents
from certain sectors, but fiscal restraints insurance increases to 5 per cent and
are a reality we are all familiar with, vehicle insurance to 10 per cent.
including the Association, which has a Finally, after more than 30 years, the
duty to keep its finances in good health. board has concluded that the sustainability
The always unpalatable issue of rate rises of our Welfare Fund requires slight
in insurance and welfare dues has to be increases in full and associate membership
addressed to ensure we are fit for purpose subscriptions. These increases will go
22
for current members and those who join some way towards the burgeoning costs
in the coming years. Top of mind for the of administering the fund, supplying
Sport Association during this evaluation is the welfare grants and keeping our large
reason it exists – for you, our members. Holiday Home network in the sort of
We have completed a necessarily robust shape that will continue to benefit future
process that we are sure will withstand generations of our members.
your scrutiny. Most of you will be very aware that the
With Police Health Plan, the Association welfare benefits the Association provides
Phone: (04) 496 6800 can say without a doubt that it has the to members are the envy of police unions
leanest overheads in the health insurance around the world, and we intend to keep
Fax: (04) 471 1309
industry. We run our own insurance on it that way.
Editor: Ellen Brook
a model that does not profit from our
Email: editor@policeassn.org.nz members. We pay out 96 cents in the dollar,
Website: www.policeassn.org.nz a few cents ahead of our nearest competitor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ and well ahead of the commercial health
nzpoliceassociation insurance sector in which major companies
Twitter: @nzpoliceassn sit around 65-85 cents.
The reasons for high inflation rates in Chris Cahill
the medical sector include annual surgical president@policeassn.org.nz
JUNE 2018 | 3
The Buzz Budget jackpot for
organised crime
P
olice Minister Stuart Nash calls his laudable, but still far from the Queensland
2018 Budget focus “21st century model of 1:413 that the Association believes
policing”, with the emphasis on governments here should be striving for.
disrupting organised crime, and 700 of the Mr Nash has told the Association he knows
promised 1800 new officers will be assigned that as New Zealand’s population increases, so
“A POTENTIAL to this area alone. too will his task of maintaining his 1:470. The
SECURITY About 300 of those 700 will be authorised
officers (AOs). Mr Nash calls them all frontline
major obstacle is the capacity to recruit and
train new officers.
RISK, AND police, including the AOs who, according to the The big ticket numbers itemised in Vote
IT’S A PAIN TO Policing Act 2008 (Section 1.3), have the power Police are:
to arrest if authorised by a constable to do so.
CLEAN UP.” The minister recently told MPs who
• $453,681 for communication centres
providing advice and information to callers,
questioned his self-proclaimed 21st-century
Why Thames Valley Police dispatching response vehicles for assistance
initiatives that they were “20th-century
banned confetti during last and the initial attendance at incidents and
thinkers”. Clearly, the definition of frontline is
month’s royal wedding. emergencies.
up to interpretation and Mr Nash shows no
– Twitter intention of situating himself in the previous • $450,505 for delivery of investigative
century. services including criminal and non-
His Vote Police includes funding for what criminal investigations and Police internal
he promises will be the latest technology to investigations.
“The public has to combat organised and serious crime, to go • $325,287 for a road safety programme.
after gangs and disrupt the supply of drugs.
think about the He says the 21st-century serious crime unit
• $202,151 for general crime prevention
services including youth-focused crime
fact that police are will focus on cybercrime, human trafficking,
illicit drug rings, terrorism, gangs and fraud.
prevention, community safety services,
balancing public and Overall, the Budget increased spending by
reducing personal harm and increasing
property security.
officer safety with only $100,000 on 2017/18, but it delivered the
numbers the Association had been waiting for: The Association has stated clearly our
their mandate to hold primarily, 1800 officers over three years fully
equipped for duty (costed by PNHQ at $140,000
intention to keep a close watch on the
districts and work groups that the extra police
offenders to account each); a determination to reach a police-to- will be allocated to, because our top concern
for their actions.” population ratio of 1:470; and more Police
employees – 240 added to the 245 already
is the pressure on the frontline.
As Association vice-president Craig
promised by the previous National government. Tickelpenny noted in response to the Budget
Police Minister Stuart Nash on
The goal of a police-to-population ratio announcements: “The frontline should be the
the complexities of dealing with
that is much lower than the current 1:538 is first cab off the allocation rank.”
fleeing drivers. – TVNZ
“‘FIX THE
HOMES, FIX Honouring your
THE STREETS’ bravery
IS THE MANTRA
N
ominations for this year’s Both constabulary and
OF OUR NPT.” Police Association Bravery non-constabulary members
Award are open. are eligible for nomination and the awards
Constable Sue Liley, Flaxmere
If you are aware of acts of bravery by are presented at the Association’s annual
Neighbourhood Policing Team,
police, on or off duty, during the past year, conference in October.
on the benefits of recently notify your committee by July 31. Nomination forms and criteria can be
introduced family harm The Bravery Award, introduced in 2010, downloaded from the Association’s website,
reduction programmes. represents peer recognition of outstanding www.policeassn.org.nz. You must be logged
– NZ POLICE acts of bravery. in as a member to access the forms.
4 | JUNE 2018
NEWS AND VIEWS
Police tackle firearms data gap
The Police Association and Police National Headquarters both want to improve the
official recording of firearms incidents in New Zealand.
B
oth the Association and PNHQ “So the reason for the disparity in Assurance Group (AG), did a firearms audit
know there are almost daily reporting is really clear,” Catherine says. in 2016 that also showed that recording of
reports of criminal incidents “Information on the involvement of firearms in NIA was not routinely done.
involving firearms in New Zealand. firearms in incidents is being reported In 2016, Police told the Law and Order
However, that is not reflected in somewhere, but not where it can be Select Committee looking into the illegal
the official record of firearms-related retrieved for analysis or reporting. It possession of firearms in New Zealand that
occurrences, which has become a source involved Lana looking at different databases any data relating to lost, stolen, seized, etc,
of frustration to those who perceive a and reading individual narratives. Imagine firearms should be considered provisional
growing risk to public safety. trying to do that on an annual basis?” only, because the way the information was
The disparity between reporting and The NRS requires that firearms be being recorded, “it becomes difficult or
recording has been looked into by the recorded as a “property item” in NIA. If that even impossible to aggregate for statistical
Police Strategy Group (PSG) and the doesn’t happen, the number of firearms purposes”.
National Intelligence Centre (NIC). cannot be counted without extensive “A change is required,” says Catherine P.
Earlier this year, PSG manager Catherine collation and research. “Just because it’s in a police officer’s case
Petrey and NIC research analyst Lana notes doesn’t mean it will be recorded
Lankevich collated data on every firearms-
related incident reported to the National
There were in the system. It has to go in the correct
place, which is under ‘item’.”
Command and Coordination Centre 86 incidents She explains the importance of getting
(NCCC) between December 8, 2017, and the data entry right. “When firearms are
February 25, 2018 (not all incidents are reported over 79 presented at police or small-business
reported to the NCCC, but the sample
was considered large enough to be
days, but only five owners, the public expresses concern
that dissipates quickly. The majority of
representative). were correctly New Zealanders go about their daily lives
The results were telling. There were 86 without ever seeing a firearm.
incidents reported over 79 days, but only recorded in NIA. “Other than the anecdotal reports from
five were correctly recorded in the National our frontline police, we don’t know the
Intelligence Application (NIA). So far this year, there have been multiple level of risk to the public, let alone all
The 86 incidents were broken down mentions of firearms in records filed by frontline workers. Nor do we know if the
this way: police officers, but only 10 have appeared risk is increasing or decreasing.
• Three reports were for stolen firearms under “item” in NIA. “The public and all licensed firearms
(two of which involved multiple Catherine and fellow PNHQ staffer owners all need to understand and know
weapons, including MSSAs and pistols). Catherine Gardner, who oversees the File the level of risk if that risk is to be mitigated
• In 29 instances, police located and seized Management Centres (FMCs), are on a appropriately. We must not wait until there
the firearms and, of these, only four mission to get all firearms data correctly is another tragedy.
had the information about the located captured and to educate staff about how “We want to support the frontline with
weapon recorded in NIA. to do that. data, but we can’t do that unless the
One of the problems is a lack of information is provided correctly.”
• In 22 occurrences, there was sufficient
knowledge about recording in NIA, which
evidence of a firearm having been used
is where the FMCs can help, says Catherine
in the offending, but it was not located/
G. “They are there to provide this support.
seized. In each case, the official entry in
Let them know and they will capture this
NIA did not reference a firearm.
information correctly in NIA.”
• In 32 instances, there was insufficient District and area commanders In one of many incidents this
information to confirm a witness/victim have been asked to year, police retrieved this
loaded, sawn-off shotgun
statement of a firearm being presented reinforce the message from the footwell of a car.
and, of those occurrences, only one NIA to staff and Police is
report referenced a firearm. putting together a
Under Police’s National Recording learning video for
Standard (NRS) guidelines and Case districts.
Management practices, all those Police’s own
occurrences should have been recorded data quality
in NIA. team, the
JUNE 2018 | 5
NEWS AND VIEWS
Behind the I
n a white, middle-class home
in a suburban part of a big New
Zealand city, two sisters endured
years of physical and psychological
white picket
abuse at the hands of their father.
“Keep your voices down from the
neighbours” was a phrase they heard
constantly as they stifled their cries and
tried to carry on as if everything was
fence…
all right.
Somehow, it seemed worse that,
on the face of it, their childhood was
relatively privileged.
Now in her mid-30s, the girl who
grew up to be a police officer recalls:
“We lived in a nice, modern suburb,
A police officer shares received a good education and went to
extracurricular activities like sport, music
her personal story of and dance. Both our parents worked and
we were well looked after.”
growing up in the eye
of a storm of family
violence and how that
has informed her work
as a member of Police.
6 | JUNE 2018
From the outside, they were a typical She sees the old injury daily. many women, she was trapped, told
family, but behind closed doors, she It’s a painful reminder of not only she wouldn’t cope without him and
says, the two sisters were exposed to the physical assaults, but also a litany taunted with having no money.”
physical, mental and emotional harm of degrading name-calling, threats
and witnessed serious violence towards and terror-filled rides in the family car,
Stigma of family violence
their mother at the hands of their father. driven recklessly to frighten them. There was a lot of stigma attached to
They were punched, kicked, pinched, She reflects now on how far she has family violence, she says. It wasn’t
choked and had objects thrown at them. come in dealing with the trauma that talked about and when she did report
She doesn’t remember the first she unconsciously suppressed for it to police, the wider family wouldn’t
attack, but her mother has told her it many years, even though the effects of believe it and turned a blind eye,
started when she was a toddler who living in “flight or fight” mode for nearly she recalls.
had interrupted her father while he was 19 years had already taken a toll. She did at one stage give evidence
concentrating on a task. “I was anxious from a very young age, in court against her father after her
She does recall many other incidents, self-harmed and had no confidence. complaint to police was followed up.
including being thrown down the stairs I was an angry teenager who struggled Bizarrely (and it wouldn’t happen now,
when she was eight, she and her sister with food and social interactions. she says), her father was representing
being placed on a stovetop element “My mother didn’t do anything to himself and cross-examined her. “The
to frighten them and her foot being remove us from the situation. I admit judge, who saw the situation for what it
fractured when it was deliberately that over the years I have blamed was, stopped the proceedings.”
stomped on when she was 12. her, but I remind myself that, like so Continued next page
A violent
Every district has family harm teams
trained in “daily triage” of events,
with follow ups and interventions
country in where necessary.
Police can issue public safety orders
our own (PSOs) if they have reasonable
grounds to believe that family harm
has happened or may happen. Police
homes do not need the consent of the person
at risk to issue the order and there is
no right of appeal. A PSO can last up to
The Government has five days.
promised an extra $76 The person bound by the order must
million funding boost over leave the address while it is in force.
the next four years for the Behind those statistics are even Under the Domestic Violence Act
services that deal with the grimmer ones. Police estimate 1995, Protection Orders (POs) can be
that each year, up to 12 women, issued through the Family Court to
victims and perpetrators protect people from violence, keeping
10 men and several children are
of family harm. killed by a family member. Many a perpetrator away from a family.
children are also injured and need PSOs and POs are often broken, which
We are a violent country in our own
hospital treatment. results in more callouts.
homes, and family harm events
are increasing by about 10 per cent Statistics from Women’s Refuge The law says that “domestic
each year – a 55 per cent increase indicate that fewer than 20 per cent violence” can be physical, sexual or
since 2009. of family violence incidents are ever psychological. It says:
reported.
Police report that on an average day, • Nobody has the right to assault
officers are attending a family harm Police has set a target of 10 per another person.
incident every four minutes, which cent fewer deaths from family
translates to about 50 per cent of the violence and has set up new family • Nobody is allowed to have sexual
workload of frontline police. Last year harm deployment models that contact with another person
police responded to 121,733 events. take a more holistic approach to without permission.
That compares with 20 per cent of this complex issue, working in • Nobody has the right to use
frontline police time spent on mental partnership with iwi, NGOs and other intimidation, threats or mind games
health callouts. government agencies. to gain power over another person.
JUNE 2018 | 7
Her memory of what happened next Later, she encountered child abuse Breaking the cycle
is hazy, but the two sisters, who were situations that triggered more memories
“I had always acknowledged my upbringing
teenagers at the time, were temporarily and reactions.
before joining Police, but I didn’t fully
taken from the family home by Child, Youth “It doesn’t affect my ability to attend
understand or acknowledge the harm it
and Family. traumatic events, it actually helps. I have an
had done.”
The court case was an experience she intimate understanding of how family harm
She doesn’t hold resentment towards her
had all but blotted out and it wasn’t till and crime can affect people. It makes me
father, “but I do resent the situation I grew
she stepped into a witness box as a police a better police officer with empathy and
up in”.
officer that it returned in a haunting way. understanding to know how someone may
“My father grew up in a violent home and
“I couldn’t understand why I felt so fearful. be feeling.
didn’t break the cycle and this would by far
I couldn’t speak loud enough and was “Just because you’re high functioning and
be the most important role for us as police
constantly being told to raise my voice. appear outwardly normal doesn’t mean
to prevent this cycle of abuse.
Now that I know why that happened, I you’re not struggling with confidence
“Family harm is everywhere. It doesn’t
no longer fear giving evidence or cross- issues, anxiety and depression or even
discriminate. As well as the harm it caused
examination.” post-traumatic stress.”
me, I have seen it first-hand in others. We
Fortunately, she says, she has not She knows that the few interactions she
have one of the highest rates of family
experienced family violence since leaving had with police as a young person were
violence in the developed world and one
home, but she has learnt about the harm it negative and disappointing.
of the highest youth suicide rates. I hope
can cause, not just psychological distress As a recruit in the days when staff were
that new initiatives for family harm and new
but also physical symptoms, such as allowed to check their own details in NIA
training that police receive will eventually
recurring illnesses, chronic illness, irritable (the National Intelligence Application), she
lower those rates.”
bowel conditions, depression and anxiety. saw two family violence alerts. “I found an
Calling it “family harm” makes perfect
Her decision to join Police, a dream she’d occurrence reported as ‘had an argument
sense to someone who has lived through
had since a young age, was bolstered by with her father’. That seems rather diluted.
it. “Our role as police is to prevent the harm
a strong sense of right and wrong and It made me think about how these alerts
suffered and the potential harm later in
“wanting to do the right thing”. As she grew cannot be an accurate representation of
life,” she says.
older, she says, she knew she wanted to how frequently family harm situations
“I’ve chosen to share this story to explain
be a police officer to help victims of child occur in any household.
that family harm can happen to anyone, no
abuse and family harm. “A true reflection of my home would have
matter your ethnicity, financial situation or
In the early days when she attended been hundreds of occurrences, which may
suburb.
so-called “domestics”, she was often left indicate what goes unreported and why, as
“On the rare occasions I have told people
feeling frustrated “if the female party played police, we should never use NIA alerts to
about my upbringing, there were raised
down what had happened or didn’t want us judge risk or frequency. The first incident
eyebrows and surprise that I didn’t fit the
to arrest her partner, or would later become reported to police may be the hundredth
stereotype… and that stereotyping and
uncooperative during the court process”. incident for that family,” she says.
unconscious bias needs to go.
“One of my favourite quotes was one
used by a district commander at the end of
his weekly blog – ‘It’s easier to build strong
children than to repair broken adults’ –
which is exactly what the prevention of
family harm is all about.”
“Family harm is If you need personal help or advice about
any issues raised in this story, contact:
everywhere. Women’s Refuge Crisis Line 0800 733 843;
Confidential Domestic Abuse Helpline
0508 744 633; Are You Ok?
It doesn’t
0800 456 450.
discriminate.“
8 | JUNE 2018
NEWS AND VIEWS
This column is written by a frontline police member. It does not
represent the views or policies of the Police Association.
Celebrating success go – so why not have a crack at my own departure of his deputy. In fact, there was
– for everyone backyard? one sentence buried in the bully board
T alk around the station this month has When I did a bit of digging myself, the notification of his job being advertised.
been about the apparent significant more I looked, the less I could find about I don’t know too much about what goes
increase in inspectors and the non- female non-constabulary high achievers. on at the mothership, but is it so bad that we
constabulary equivalent while the rank and We’re very good at talking about diversity don’t even acknowledge the departure of
file remains static. When a colleague did a and how awesome we are at making sure such a long-serving, high-achieving officer
we’ve got variety in our ranks, but on the – and of Māori descent? Another example
bit of digging, trawling through old annual
Police website under “Women in leadership of celebrating diversity and achievement?
reports – dirty work, but… – he emerged
not much the wiser. roles”, there’s no mention of our non-
constabulary shining stars.
Further down the road
I
There does seem to have been a fairly ’m starting to get a bad feeling about
It’s as if there’s no such thing. Do you only
big increase in the number of inspectors, fleeing drivers. Another one dead. It
feature if you wear a blue shirt?
percentage-wise at least, though they’re seems increasingly likely that we’ll get
Oh, and apologies to my mate who
still pretty low numbers in the overall lumped with a new law resembling that
was really wanting to have a crack at the
headcount. But it seems that Police of our cousins across the ditch, which
number of bosses wandering around. Your
stopped publishing the number of our non- means we can no longer attempt to stop
point wasn’t lost on me, I just got a bit
constabulary colleagues, by rank, around these law-breakers. Better get our thinking
sidetracked.
2013. My mate could see how many caps on as to how we can catch these
inspectors there were (289 at last count in Farewell, Viv dangerous drivers if we can’t pursue them.
Y
mid-2017) but not a clue how many non- ou might have missed the news
constabulary are at that rank. that long-serving (some might say
Some of you might not really care too long-suffering) Deputy Commissioner
much about this, and I know it sounds odd Viv Rickard has left. The Commissioner Constable Iam Keen
coming from a crusty old blue-shirt, but I was effusive in his … oh no, wait, that’s To update Iam Keen
did join this job many years ago to do my what SHOULD have happened. The with information, email
bit to make sure New Zealanders get a fair Commissioner barely commented on the iamkeen@policeassn.org.nz
Members – new discounts for you
We’ve added three new providers to our Member Discount programme.
Tactical Solutions Christchurch Epicentre Cycling
Discounts on tactical gear in store and online. Adventure Park Discounts on mountain bike
Members who use the discount in June go in Discounted tours, lift passes and rental and bike servicing from this
the draw to win a hamper of Tactical Solutions mountain bike lessons at this leisure store in Christchurch.
gear worth more than $800. park in Christchurch’s Port Hills.
To find out more about these discounts and others available through the Member Discounts
programme, go to our website, www.policeassn.org.nz, sign in, then click on ‘Member Discounts’
from the ‘Products and Services’ menu. You need to be logged in to view the discounts.
JUNE 2018 | 9
NEWS AND VIEWS
Going in to bat
for gender equity
The Police Association’s Sport Administrator of the Year
is a hard-working volunteer and champion for women in sport.
C
ricket started exerting a strong that time. That appointment followed two She has always had an unerring belief
influence on Sally Morrison’s life years as chair of the Wellington Collegians that cricket is for everyone and has actively
even before she was born. Cricket Club – also a first for a woman in championed that, moving into club
Her birth, on March 7, 1974, was induced Wellington. administration at the age of 16 as a co-club
so that her father, cricketer John Morrison, In 2016, Sally was elected chair of CW captain. It’s perhaps no surprise to find out
would be available to play in a test match. and remains the only woman to have held that she was the first female to take that
In the Morrison family, cricket has always this role at a national or regional level in role.
been important and Sally has continued the New Zealand. During her time at the Wellington
tradition, becoming a pioneer for women She has a long history of club cricket Collegians Cricket Club, she increased the
administrators in the sport. involvement, playing her first game of number of senior women’s sides from one
Last month, she was named as the Police senior women’s club cricket at the age to four and was involved in developing
Association Sport Administrator of the Year f 14. a new grade in Wellington cricket for
for 2017 in recognition of a series of her As a four year old an under-18 “premier girls’ league”,
contributions to cricket over many years, racing around the
including her support for gender equity in backyard with her
the sport. brother and father,
Sally is a Police employee who works she says, it never
as principal adviser strategy at the Police occurred to her
College. She has a background in project that being female
and relationship management. might affect her
Police Association president Chris Cahill experience of the
presented Sally with her award, the Gordon game.
Hogg Memorial Rosebowl trophy, at the
Police College, noting that it was one of
the most highly contested categories in the
annual sports awards.
“There were applicants from some very
high-profile organisations, but you stood
out. The award is for work over one year,
but it also recognises your contribution to
sport administration over 30 years. Your
voluntary work epitomises what makes
New Zealand so successful in sport.”
Sally played senior cricket for more than Sally Morrison,
20 years and also coached and managed principal adviser
strategy at the
the Wellington women’s team, the Blaze,
Police College, with
for five years. two of her four
In 2009, she was elected to the Cricket daughters, Thea,
7 (holding mum’s
Wellington (CW) board as the first elected
trophy), and Frida,
female director, making her the only 8. Photo: ELLEN
woman on any major association board at BROOK
10 | JUNE 2018WE L F
CE
LI A
PO
RE
FU
eventually forming the Wellington City
premier girls’ side in conjunction with
Sally is unapologetic about the
need for the board and management
Welfare N D LT D
the Karori Cricket Club.
In 2011, as a director on the CW
to “start at equity” and says positive
change is more likely to happen when
Fund updates
board, she drove the McDermott there is diversity at the board table.
Review of community cricket with the Both women’s and men’s domestic Health Plan
aim of ensuring club sustainability at all coaches are employed fulltime at This year, there are some enhancements that
levels. CW and it is operational practice that members have been asking for, and modest
The following year, she was involved whenever the Blaze (women’s) and premium increases that vary with age and level
in the CW Women’s Cricket Review Firebirds (men’s) teams are talked or of cover. Full details will be sent to you in June.
with Sport Wellington, subsequently written about, the women’s side or
chairing the resulting Women’s players are mentioned first.
Fire & General
Advisory Group. In 2015, she was Because of her strong gender There are important changes this year to our
Fire & General Insurance policies. You will be
a contributor to the development advocacy, Sally was invited to Perth last
contacted in June with the details, and it is
of New Zealand Cricket’s Women’s year to be a mentor for the Australian
crucial that you read the information supplied.
Strategy – a damning report on that Institute of Police’s Management
subject. Balance Programme for female leaders.
Police Life Insurance Extra
Since Sally’s election as the CW chair, She represented New Zealand Police,
Each year, Police Life Insurance Extra premiums
the board and new CEO Cam Mitchell mentoring six women leaders over a
are adjusted in line with a member’s age at the
have led extensive organisational 15-week period.
annual renewal of the policy in July. Members
change resulting in not only a financial In August 2017, Sally began an will receive their premium advice notice in June
turnaround but the board now has important book project – a history to take effect from July 11.
three female directors and a female of women in cricket in New Zealand.
board intern – a 50/50 gender split – It’s a long-term team project with Welfare Fund Subscriptions
making it the only cricket board in the publication due in 2021 before the For the first time in more than 33 years, we have
country where that has been achieved. Women’s Cricket World Cup, which is reluctantly agreed to increase the cost of the
being held in New Zealand. Police Welfare Fund subscription, from $3 to
Sally says the book will bring to $4 a fortnight for full Welfare Fund members
light the feats of women cricketers and from $1 to $1.33 a fortnight for Associate
who were previously unrecognised members, effective from July 11. This is
because of their gender. “It is time to necessary to assist with the increasing costs of
tell the story of this great game and welfare grants paid to members and the cost of
the women who dedicated so much to Police News.
playing it well for their country. What
better way to thank these women than
Holiday Homes
to tell their story?” Our 71 Holiday Homes are one of the most
Her book project work and her popular benefits enjoyed by members, with
occupancy in excess of 85 per cent. Although
cricket roles are all unpaid, with her
our homes have generally been well maintained,
enthusiasm driven by her great love
high usage and age mean that many now require
of cricket as “a dynamic, intelligent
major refurbishment or replacement. Work is
recreation choice” for all those who under way to replace the two Whangamata units,
enjoy the game. as repair would be uneconomic. Rather than
Meanwhile, Sally is also busy on the continuing to expand the network, the board
home front as the mother of four girls, has decided to ensure that existing homes are
a role she likes to mix with her cricket brought up to the required standards.
work “to show my daughters what it is
to be a strong female role model”. Payments
If you pay your subscriptions through the Police
pay system, you do not have to do anything.
Any relevant adjustments will be automatically
deducted from your pay on June 27 for Fire &
General and on July 11 for Police Life Insurance
“Positive change is more Extra. If you pay through your Police and
Families Credit Union account, you will need
likely to happen when there to ensure you have sufficient funds in your
account to cover the changes.
is diversity at the board table.” For more information on any Welfare Fund
products, call our team on 0800 500 122 or
email enquiries@policeassn.org.nz
JUNE 2018 | 11In Brief Pay round 2018
T
hese are challenging times everything will be in the mix – the
Aussies scrap fitness test for members covered by difficulties of living and working in
Western Australian Police has scrapped the constabulary and Police Auckland, a push for paid overtime
a fitness test it introduced three years employee collectives and that translates as an alternative to TOIL, general pay
ago because officers were getting to challenging times for the Police adjustments, rosters, standby, recruitment
injured doing it. The test differs from Association and the team that negotiates in a competitive market with low
the New Zealand Police PCT (physical your pay and conditions. unemployment and the retention of
competency test) in that it was an The fact that the police managers’ experienced staff and supervisors.
untimed obstacle course done outdoors collective (covering inspectors and The Association adopts a constructive,
with officers wearing operational Police employee equivalents) expired interest-based approach to bargaining,
footwear, not running shoes. Western last December and is still unresolved and seeking long-lasting solutions to
Australian Police Union president heading towards arbitration points to some identified issues.
George Tilbury backed the decision, torrid negotiations for the main collectives Negotiations are done behind closed
saying several officers had suffered in the months ahead, which the Association doors and in good faith, but we will share
career-threatening injuries caused or is well prepared for. updates with members even if we have
aggravated by doing the course. WA Negotiations kick off in June, but don’t little progress to report. We will also
Police confirmed that 37 officers were expect an early resolution. The issues are continue to monitor your feedback via
hurt in the first year of testing when 4125 many and will require engagement at the the payround2018@policeassn.org.nz
officers were put through the course. highest levels of Government to secure a email box.
settlement that members will endorse. Make sure you take an active interest in
Strong arms of the law The Government is in the midst of these negotiations right through to voting
Police in Hong Kong joined sportspeople negotiations with nurses, teachers and on any proposed settlement that is placed
and others as 300 of them set a Guinness police. Each group performs essential in front of members.
World Record for the most people functions in society and each faces The 2015 settlement received high
performing a one-arm push-up for difficulties, some of which are particular endorsement from members who voted
one minute, which, if you’ve ever tried to that profession and others that are and ratified it, however this is another pay
to do one, you will recognise as an common across all three. round with another set of challenges – so
impressive feat. The Hong Kong Police From the Association’s perspective, let the talks begin.
PR department organised the event as
a fundraiser in conjunction with the
Society for Abandoned Animals. The
PR department linked the difficulty of
the one-arm press-up to the hardship Rule change would
boost expertise
suffered by deserted and disabled
animals.
T
he Police Association’s board of the board to appoint individuals with
directors has taken the initiative particular skills, expertise, knowledge,
on diversity of representation by information and experience.
proposing an amendment to its rules to “With the growing responsibilities on
allow the appointment of up to two non- boards to keep pace with increasingly
Blue Light AGM elected directors for a two-year term. complex commercial, legal and diversity
Blue Light, the charity that works in The proposal, which was presented to the considerations, as well as IT and HR factors,
partnership with Police to deliver youth May board meeting, will be discussed at the Association needs flexibility to show our
programmes, is holding its annual general this month’s annual committee meetings members and our business partners that
meeting on Friday, August 17, at the before a final decision is made at the annual we are serious about good governance,”
Blue Light Lodge, 10 Maire St, Wairakei, conference in October. he said.
Taupō, at 2pm. All are welcome to attend President Chris Cahill, who proposed the “We need to present as a 21st-century
the meeting and more information is change, said that under the current rules, entity. That means challenging our
available from bluelight.co.nz. Blue Light the Association was required to “endeavour homogenous composition by applying a
has been doing its good work for more to create a balance on the board reflective ‘diversity lens’.
than 30 years, aiming to reduce the of New Zealand society”. “It is time for us to take the initiative. We
incidence of young people becoming It was clear, however, that so far, the board need the flexibility to assess our governance
offenders or victims of crime and had not achieved that goal, particularly in practices, identify gaps and bring in the
encouraging better relations between regards to the Association’s membership. talent that will assist us across various facets
police, young people, their parents The concept of appointments to boards of our complex commercial and welfare
and the community. It runs a variety of was an accepted practice to improve activities.”
supervised sporting, educational and corporate governance, he said. The The board has recommended that the
cultural activities and programmes. intention behind the change was to allow committees adopt the proposal.
12 | JUNE 2018Walter’s Wonders
Half of the reunion crew: from left, Kevin Holland, Tony Hunter, Doug Stapleton, Adrian Mowatt-Wilson, Tony Tremewan, Bert Hill, Rod Whitaker, Jim Rossiter,
Bernie Rowe, Tony Allum. Photo: ELLEN BROOK
L
ast month, 20 members of the and watching staff using it, clearly Named after the prime minister of the
Walter Nash Cadet Wing gathered showed how society, crime, criminals and day, great things were expected of the
in Wellington for a 60th reunion. public expectations of police, along with Walter Nash Cadet Wing.
Some of the wing members spent their responses, had changed “out of sight” over As their reunion booklet noted: “With
entire working lives with Police, some the past 60 years. their policing careers behind them, but
served with the United Nations and the “Seeing the array of TV screens covering with blue blood still in their veins, ‘Walter’s
armed forces, while others started their two entire walls of the District Command Wonders’ have evolved into the ‘Nash
own businesses and took up other careers. Centre, able to show multiple CCTV Ramblers’ – a not-so-quiet bunch who
All started as “wet behind the ears” cadets coverage and the police units available grab life by the lapels and live every
at the Policing Training School in Trentham over the entire lower third of the North moment to its fullest.”
in January 1958, graduating in August 1959. Island, was most impressive. Even more
During their weekend get-together, they so, was the intelligence, information,
visited the District Command Centre and data, vehicle ID and history of persons of
Central Comms at Wellington Central interest.”
Police Station, “to remind the old fellas When Duncan and his fellow cadets
how communications have improved” graduated they were not long out of high
since 1959 when their comms equipment school, but well prepped to become the
consisted of a Police whistle and pennies “finest boys in blue, able to deal with motor
for the public telephone box. accidents, domestic violence, drug busts,
Duncan McGill noted that seeing the diplomatic protection, the six o’clock swill
functions provided by modern technology, and other challenges”.
The cadets at graduation in 1959; right, the Walter
Nash 2nd Cadet Wing graduation magazine.
JUNE 2018 | 13COVE R S TO RY
Push yourself!
A female sergeant who completed the tough Protection
Services combined AOS selection course wants to
encourage other woman to sign up for the challenge.
S
ergeant Karen Ellis likes The physical side of the selection for the written exam and ensuring
challenges, which is good course includes the AOS standard PCT that I knew exactly what was needed
because there are few training and Coopers test, six-minute rotating for the new combined selection
regimes in Police that are as physically plank, a swim test and four-hour team course.”
demanding as the four-day Tactical resilience exercise carrying a jerry Saturday and Sunday mornings were
Groups Selection Course (TGSC). can, as well as mandatory firearms set aside for training, including heading
It’s a precursor to attending protection testing and scenarios for adaptability up the Paekākāriki Escarpment track
officer and AOS qualification courses and decision making, stress tolerance/ with a weighted vest – she worked her
and Karen decided to have a crack at it reactions and tactical awareness. way up from 12 kilograms to more than
soon after joining Protection Services She had some company at the start 20kg – and the “jerry can carry walk” on
(the old DPS) as a Residential Security of the process, with two other staff Sundays, with swim training, running,
Group team leader at PNHQ. members joining her at the gym for planking and cardio training on week
“Although it wasn’t a requirement for early morning training. days.
my current role, I decided the course “Unfortunately, the wheels fell off She was introduced to the ALICE
was the right challenge for me,” she the training wagon,” she says. “First, pack just after Christmas – All-purpose
says. “It really helped that management there was a resignation and a move to Lightweight Individual Carrying
were very supportive and encouraged greener pastures overseas. Next, the Equipment – the backpack used by all
me to do it too.” other member of the trio injured herself, TGSC participants and developed in
First up, though, the 54 year old had to straining both her Achilles tendons 1973 by the United States Army.
be prepared for selection, which meant during sprint training.” Karen says the term “lightweight”
getting into training, physically and Karen pressed on. “I put together a is debatable – “Forty-five years ago,
mentally. folder of all things selection, studying maybe, but now not so much.”
“Set achievable targets and, when
you reach them, extend yourself
and your body further.”
Sergeant Karen Ellis and with her dog, Tui,
and the jerry can that she hauled during
her training for the four-day Tactical
Groups Selection Course.
Photo: ELLEN BROOK
14 | JUNE 2018The March 22 deadline seemed to come “I love my job, love being a police officer
up very quickly, she says, and “so did my and was so inspired and proud to see the
heart rate and level of anxiety”. professionalism and calibre of the staff who
She was about to put her months of completed this course. I was very proud to
training to the test, and that test proved to be part of it.”
be gruelling. To get through, she told herself However, she says, out of the 48 staff on
it was just a “window of hard” and it would the course, only four were women. “The
be over in a couple of days. course was ethnically rich, but regarding
During the dark times, she says, she took gender diversity, ‘we’ were not well
inspiration from her adopted niece, who represented.”
was born with foetal dependency issues. Having previously been a recruit instructor,
“She has significant challenges, including Karen says she knows there are “loads of
being subjected to peer ridicule almost daily. strong and extremely capable females out
As a teenager, it has become even harder, there” and she has a message for them and
but her strength and determination were a for Police.
guiding light for me. She doesn’t give up and “We need you to work at tipping the
neither would I!” gender scale in Protection Services and
At the end of the four days, and after 27 AOS, working towards getting more than
years of policing, Karen says the course two females on each TGSC selection. What
was a highlight of her career. about 12 and 12? It may be too soon for this,
but… how about 22 females and two males!”
Her post-course advice for anyone who
wants to give it a go is to make a plan, find
your inspiration, set your goals and give
yourself time to train and prepare.
“Set achievable targets and, when you
reach them, extend yourself and your body
further. Train when you are tired, cold and
hungry and, if you can, find someone to
train with and push each other to make that
commitment.
“Look out for the next TGSC selection
dates and then go for it. There are no
failures, just bloody good attempts, with
lessons learnt. Don’t ever give up!”
Now that Karen has passed the selection
course, she’s planning to do the qualifying
course next month.
Police is keen for more women to
join Protection Services and AOS.
Anyone who is interested in finding
out more about the PS role and
subsequent courses can contact
Protection Services or Karen Ellis.
JUNE 2018 | 15NOTEBOOK
Keeping you up to date with evolving
THE TECH FILES technology at work and at home
The SWAB team? problem, “or deal with people who
are impaired if they are not showing
I n 2016, Ministry of Transport figures significant physical impairment”.
show that alcohol and drugs were As far as the science and reliability
contributing factors in 80 fatal traffic of the testing goes, there are varying
crashes, 144 serious injury crashes and reports, with some saying it’s not as
479 minor injury crashes. accurate as a urine or hair sample. On
As a result of those crashes, there were the other hand, it may be more difficult
89 deaths, 189 serious injuries and 674 mouth or on the tongue to get a sample to tamper with a saliva sample, and oral
minor injuries. The social cost was about and it takes three to five minutes to testing can detect drugs immediately
$564 million. get a result. If drivers test positive at after the most recent use.
The drunk drivers are easy enough the roadside, they are then required to Although there have been some
to catch and deal with, but what about allow a blood specimen to be taken for problems reported in the Australian states
drivers under the influence of drugs? further analysis. Failure to undergo the with faulty readings and cannabis not
A private member’s bill introduced tests results in hefty terms of licence always being detected, the technology
this year by Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott, disqualification and fines. continues to improve.
whose father and sister are former This seems to be a more efficient way Like everything, there is a cost. Each
police officers, would allow police to of testing for drugs than our current CIT single-use mouth swab sample kit costs
do roadside saliva testing if a driver is (compulsory impairment test), which has about NZ$60 and then there is the blood
suspected of being drug-impaired. on occasion taken me off the road for test fee, which in New Zealand is about
The mouth-swab saliva test is well used more than an hour. $650. – BEN RUTHERFORD
across Australian police forces, analysing Our president, Chris Cahill, says saliva
samples for cannabis, MDMA (Ecstasy) testing is a good alternative to the CIT, Constable Ben Rutherford works in
and methamphetamine. which does not really allow police road policing and is an administrator of
An absorbent collector is put in the to understand the true extent of the the Christchurch Police Facebook page.
Annual committee meetings 2018
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
4 June 5 6 7 8 9
QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY » »Tauranga – 10:30am » »Rotorua – 10am » »Timaru – 9:30am
» »Whakatāne – 2pm » »Christchurch » »Hamilton – 10am
– 10:30am
» »Tokoroa – 2pm
» »Rangiora – 2pm
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
» »Hutt – 11am » »PNHQ – 10am » »Blenheim – 10:30am » »West Coast – 2pm
» »Masterton – 3pm » »Wellington – 2pm » »Nelson – 2:30pm
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
» »Kerikeri – 10am » »North Shore – 10am » »Auckland – 10am » »RNZPC 10am
» »Whangarei – 2pm » »Henderson – 2pm » »Counties Manukau » »Kāpiti/Porirua 2pm
– 2pm
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
» »Wairoa – 11am » »Hawke’s Bay – 2pm » »Queenstown – 2:30pm » »Dunedin – 2pm » »Invercargill – 1pm
» »Gisborne – 2pm
1 July 2 3 4 5 6
» »New Plymouth » »Whanganui – 10am » »Palmerston North
– 10am » »Ohakune – 2pm – 10am
» »Hawera – 3pm » »Levin – 2pm
Remember to check our website, www.policeassn.org.nz, for any updates to this schedule.
16 | JUNE 2018ASK YOUR
Between
AUNTY...
She’s firm
but fair
the Lines
Dear Aunty
Membership hacks from the Member Services Centre team I recently returned to full frontline duties
0800 500 122 enquiries@policeassn.org.nz after an ACC return-to-work plan. I’d
provided monthly rosters in advance
to WFM, but they didn’t update them!
As a result, payroll docked me a few
hundred dollars, without notice, when
they finally sorted it out. Is that legal?
Overseas Accommodation Holiday Homes: It’s also frustrating that they never
Welfare Fund member? Visitor log communicated with me.
We have special rates for accommodation Docked
Take a break.
in Australia and Thailand.
Hey, have a Kit Kat if you need to! Dear Docked
Go to Holiday Accommodation on
In an ideal world, your rosters would
our web page and click on the map to have been updated and you would have
“View International Accommodation”. been paid properly. In a less than ideal
world, where there had been a delay in
#vacay #flyaway the change of rosters, the overpayment
would have been dealt with and a
letter would have been sent outlining a
repayment plan. As we mentioned last
month, under the Wages Protection Act
1983, and in your circumstances, your
employer can’t take any money out of
Holiday Home hacks: your pay without your consent. If this
Cancellations But why not visit Steve and Bev,
has caused you financial problems, you
the caretakers at Stanmore
Need to cancel a booking? can ask for the pay to be re-credited
Bay? They still had sun when
and for the overpayment be dealt with
If you give us three or more Jeri visited in May.
correctly. You did everything you could
months’ notice? No worries. so, hopefully, raising it with Police may
Between three and one months out? ensure they do their bit next time.
We hold your deposit unless it’s rebooked.
Less than one month?
Hi Aunty
You are liable for the full amount unless
it’s rebooked by another member. I’m constantly being contacted by my
supervisors outside work hours, even
Contact us with any queries. when I’m not on standby. I have a
Police-issue cellphone, which I also use
#whenlifegetsintheway as my personal phone. I feel I have to
#holidayhomes respond to all the messages and calls, but
Or, if mountain views are more
my partner’s giving me grief for taking
your go, try some zen time in
work calls on my days off. When I’m on
Queenstown just like Flo.
standby, it’s different, but when it’s a
genuine day off, is this fair?
#backyardtravels
What’s up, MSC? End of the Line
Wellness is all the rage. Dear End of the Line
We’ve been smashing out regular The convenience of having your work
lunchtime group fitness, a Mindfulness and personal phone combined is great
Matters workshop and a smoothie stop. – only one phone to carry around and
Police pick up the tab! On the downside,
Meet Luke (centre, with Laura, left, and you can feel like you’re never really off
Elsa) from our Membership team. Luke duty. My advice, to everyone, is buy your
had never exercised before, but now he’s own personal cellphone. If Police really
been to EVERY class! need you to be ready for duty on your
days off, they should pay you the relevant
Aiming for #absbyxmas
allowance. If you’re not on call, leave your
Be like Luke! Tell us what you do work phone at work.
to keep well in your workplace.
Email questions for Aunty to
editor@policeassn.org.nz.
#betterlivingeverybody
JUNE 2018 | 17You can also read
