Family connections a strong theme in wing's success – police graduation on Thursday

Seventy seven new constables will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College in Wing 283 today. Family ties are very strong with nearly a third of the wing having family members serving or formerly serving in police.

Wing 283’s patron, Steve Long QSO, had a long and distinguished 31-year career in the New Zealand Police and he has a long family history with police spanning six generations.

Also crossing the generations is the father-son duo of Sergeants Ty and Tony Davidson who are in charge of sections two and three respectively.

Sergeant Ty Davidson will lead his first recruit section onto the parade ground on Thursday following in his father’s footsteps who has been a valued member of the recruit training team for a number of years.

The knowledge passed from father to son must have been right on target with members from Ty’s section taking out the two top awards.

First in Wing was awarded to Constable Daniel Fluker, posted to Waitematä. Constable Fluker was also awarded the Information Technology Skills Award. The Commissioner’s Award for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Andrew Kemp, also posted to Waitematä. Constable Kemp was also awarded the Prevention Award.

First in wing – no fluke
Constable Daniel Fluker worked as a sports journalist and broadcaster before heading to the UK for seven years. While overseas Daniel worked as a tour-guide with ‘Top Deck’, leading tours throughout Europe.

“My experiences overseas motivated me to join Police. I wanted to return home and join an organisation where I could help protect and preserve this wonderful place where our families and communities live.”

New Zealand rep scores her police goal
Constable Casie Bowry has been a member of the New Zealand Women's National Water Polo team since 2007. The sport has given the Christchurch-based constable the opportunity to travel extensively overseas. She has attended two junior world champion events, Portugal in 2007 and Russia in 2009, and played at three FINA World Championships in Rome 2009, Shanghai 2011 and Barcelona in 2013.

Kora a stand-out
Constable Selevasio Kora has stood out as a great team member and will be awarded the section achievement prize for section two. This award acknowledges an individual who, in the collective view of the members of the section and the wing instructors, made the greatest contribution to the overall success of the team.

Constable Kora’s section sergeant, Ty Davidson, said Selevasio had worked hard to meet the required targets and displayed strong resolve in the face of challenges.

“Despite his own concerns about completing the course he was always happy and friendly and would go out of his way to help others before himself. These personal attributes are largely what led to his selection,” said Sergeant Davidson.

Constable Kora was born in Suva, Fiji, and worked in the agricultural industry before joining police. His inspiration to join police came from his police officer uncle and he prepared himself well by completing the Unitec pre-police course in 2013.

There is an international flavour to the wing with members' countries of birth spanning the globe, including Austria, Taipei, South Africa, India, United Kingdom, Fiji, Australia, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Spain.

Wing 283 members have been posted to the following districts; Northland, Waitematä, Auckland, Counties-Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Eastern, Central, Wellington, Tasman, Canterbury and Southland.

Wing 283 award winners:
• Minister’s Award for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Daniel Fluker, posted to Waitematä. Constable Fluker was also awarded the Information Technology Skills Award (overall winner in computer skills and skills files).
• Commissioner’s Award for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Andrew Kemp, posted to Waitematä. Constable Kemp was also awarded the Prevention Award (overall winner in practical assessments and fingerprinting). The Prevention Award is supported by the Crimestoppers Trust.
• Patron’s Award for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Fraser Woon, posted to Waitematä. Constable Woon was also awarded the Academic Award (for the overall winner of Academic Exams 1, 2 and 3).
• The Leadership Award (in recognition of having demonstrated outstanding leadership and potential to succeed) was awarded to Constable Kenneth Ross, posted to Waikato. This award is supported by the Porirua City Council. Constable Ross was also awarded the Tactical Skills and Safety Award (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving). He was jointly awarded the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award (top students in all defensive tactics assessments), and he also received the Section Three Section Achievement Award.

The Weapon Training Award (for the top student in all firearms assessments) was awarded to Constable Steven Petersen, posted to Bay of Plenty. The Driver Training Award (for the top student in all driver training assessments) was awarded to Constable Javon Beets, posted to Counties-Manukau. The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award (for the top student in all defensive tactics assessments) was jointly awarded to Constable Ben Nelson, posted to Waitemata, and Constable Kenneth Ross.

Police Association Awards for Section Achievement:
This is awarded to an individual from each section who, in the collective view of the members of the section and the wing instructors, made the greatest contribution to the overall success of the team.

• Section One Constable Kym Champion, posted to Waikato.
• Section Two Constable Selevasio Kora, posted to Auckland.
• Section Three Constable Kenneth Ross, posted to Waikato.
• Section Four Constable Anna Reti, posted to Central.

Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 22 May at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Police, the Hon Anne Tolley, the Police Commissioner Mike Bush, Deputy Commissioner Viv Rickard and Acting Deputy Commissioner Grant Nicholls.

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