Police family just got bigger: Even police dogs share latest police graduation

Sixty new constables will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) in Wing 291 tomorrow, Thursday 25 June and at the same graduation three experienced Police Dog handlers and one Corrections Officer will be graduating from their nine-week course in narcotic detection.

The patron for Wing 291 is Paula Rebstock CNZM, an Auckland-based consultant and company director.

Ms Rebstock is on the Governance Board of the Police Women’s Advisory Network.

She is currently the Chairperson of the Accident Compensation Corporation and is also the Deputy Chair of KiwiRail.

She is well-known for her role as chair of the Commerce Commission from 2003 to 2009.

Ms Rebstock’s been very involved with the wing, joining recruits during class work, firearms and even TASER training.

All in the family:
The recruits and dogs will graduate together for family reasons.

A number of Wing 291 graduating constables have come from police families.

While S/Constable Andrew Phillips is graduating with his drug detecting dog, Dixie, his son Ngatiki Phillips, who’s posted to Canterbury, where his dad is based, graduates from Wing 291 today as well.

Constable Ngatiki Phillips says “It's a privilege to finally join the police but being able to graduate alongside Dad makes it all the more special.

He has always been supportive of me joining so it's an honour to be able to stand with him on the parade ground.”

Constable Michael Lamb also graduates today from Wing 291, and his father Senior Constable Bruce Lamb is currently a serving dog handler in Canterbury while Michael’s mother is a retired cop.

Senior Constable Lamb is a very proud dad, and says: “To have Michael graduate from the college, is for me like a continuation and a passing of the baton.

As I come closer to the end of an exceptionally exciting and very rewarding career, he starts his. I am very proud.”

Bruce’s son Michael says “I feel very privileged and proud to be graduating and joining the New Zealand Police.

It’s been very challenging but I have had a lot of fun along the way. I am extremely excited about getting out into the Canterbury community and putting all the skills and training I have learned into practice.”

The family ties don’t stop there. The instructor for the dog-handling course, Sgt Alan Campbell has a son, Rob Campbell, who's an operational dog handler in Wellington.

Senior Constable Ross Clarke joined the Police in 1971 and the Auckland Dog Section in 1980.

Today Ross is graduating with Trentham-bred German Shepherd “Kadee”.
Ross has two family members serving in Police.

His daughter Jessica is a Detective Constable working from Counties Manukau and his son Andrew, who’s now an appointed dog handler, is also working from Auckland.

New Constable Glen Allan’s wife is a police officer and his father recently retired after 39 years policing in Wellington.

“I am lucky to have had my father as such a prominent role model in my life, and I will strive to do my job with as much honour and integrity as he did during his thirty-nine years of service with the New Zealand Police,” says Glen.

Other graduating constables with family ties to the police include Constable Clare-Marie Collins, who is married to a police officer; Constable Phillip Walker’s grandfather was a Detective Superintendent in the CIB; Constable Richard Bradley’s father and brother are police officers in the UK, and finally Constable Christopher Guild’s sister is a police officer in Queensland.

All over the world:
The graduating constables have hailed from many different countries; some were born in China, South Africa, Korea, Samoa, the United Kingdom, Germany and even Afghanistan.

Ahmed Ali Rezaye moved to New Zealand from Afghanistan for a safer life and better education and has wanted to become a police officer since first moving to New Zealand.

“I believe that because of my different lifestyle and that I speak a few languages this will come in helpful in my new career.

It's a role I don't take lightly and I hope to take some of my experience in understanding the different lifestyles of certain cultures and put it into practice in my new role,” he says.

The wing is made up of 55% New Zealand European, and 45% Maori, Pacific Island and Asian.

Constable Xin (Michael) Zhou’s brother is based at Auckland Central and both he and his brother were born in China. Xin Zhou says, "Having my elder brother serving as a police officer for nine years has given me good insight into policing and the encouragement to pursue the goal of becoming a police officer.

I am so glad that we will be working together within the 'police family'."

Kyung Sam Son’s brother is a serving police officer in Counties Manukau, while Kyung’s posting will be to Auckland. Kyung and his brother were born in the People’s Republic of Korea and immigrated to New Zealand in 2000.

Constable Siwei Zhao hails originally from China and was a professional pentathalete before moving to New Zealand.

He’s won the wing Firearms Award, for Firearms Skills and Safe Practices. Constable Zhao is posted to Waitematā.

Interesting backgrounds and qualifications:
Previous occupations of the recruits range from pilots, to tennis coaches and builders.

Other occupations are listed as barman, teacher, anaesthetic technician, air hostess, taxi driver, builder, gym instructor, army chef, swim coach and joiner.

Many recruits have a variety of tertiary qualifications, such as bachelor degrees in chemistry, psychology, communications, teaching, criminology, sociology, physical education and commerce. Many have trade certificates such as carpentry, education, mechanics and chef qualifications.

Wing 291 has contributed to several events in the Wellington region.

Recruits were deployed to Anzac commemorations and events, including events at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park and at the Wellington regional stadium, and some connected with the local community when they took part in the Titahi Bay dawn service.

Wing 291 award winners:
• The Minister’s Award for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Mathew Kay posted to Waitematā District. This award recognises the top student after the collation of all course assessments.

• The Prevention Award (for demonstration of operational skills and prevention practices) was awarded to Constable Mathew Kay also.

• The Patron’s Award for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Marc Hartley who’s posted to Waitematā District.

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) also goes to Constable Marc Hartley.

• The Response Award (for demonstration of safe practices and tactical skills) was awarded to Constable Marc Hartley too.

Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 25 June at 2.00pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Police, the Hon Michael Woodhouse, Acting Police Commissioner Glenn Dunbier and wing patron Paula Rebstock, along with members of the police executive.

ENDS

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