Police staff recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
"Police staff recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours"
Brave actions by a police officer and a member of the public during an armed confrontation leading to a fatal shooting in Upper Hutt have been recognised with New Zealand Bravery awards announced today.
Officer S, whose identity is protected, receives the New Zealand Bravery Medal (NZBM) for bravery and restaurant worker Mr Michael Riley the New Zealand Bravery Decoration for exceptional bravery in a situation of danger.
The awards, amongst the highest of New Zealand Bravery Honours, arise from an incident which started inside McDonald’s, Upper Hutt, at lunchtime on 8 September 2015 when gunman Pera Smiler pointed a rifle at Mr Riley, demanding everyone leave the restaurant.
A shot was fired into the ceiling, and further demands made, before Mr Smiler went out onto crowded lunchtime streets. There he fired twice again, narrowly missing officers responding to the scene, and putting the public and police at further risk.
Officer S and other officers repeatedly asked Mr Smiler to drop his firearm and surrender but the situation escalated further when Mr Smiler pointed his weapon at police.
He was shot and, despite immediate attention, died at the scene.
The IPCA investigation found that the shooting was justified, and that the Police response to the incident was immediate and effective.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush praised the bravery and professionalism of police officers at the scene to protect the public, and the extraordinary bravery of Mr Riley in making sure restaurant customers were safely evacuated.
“This was a traumatic event for the many members of the public who were present, and also for police officers and Mr Smiler’s family.
“Using lethal force is a last option, but the bravery shown by many police that day, in particular Officer S and Mr Riley was exceptional.
“This was a fast moving, dangerous situation to which Mr Riley, Officer S and other police responded to prevent further escalation and to keep people safe.”
Officer S is one of six members of New Zealand Police whose professionalism, actions and service across a broad range of policing, prevention and sporting endeavours are reflected in the Queen’s Birthday and New Zealand Bravery Honours.
Commissioner Bush said the range of Honours to Police staff, some initiated through their external interests including international level sports, demonstrates the strengths and diversity within New Zealand Police.
“We strive to be a high-performing police who are actively working with and part of our community. It’s very rewarding to see the energy, service and contribution our people are making is recognised, including in areas such as family violence, diversity and dog section.
“All the honours, including recognition for two of our officers who are high-profile international rugby and rugby league sports women, are warmly welcomed.”
The Police recipients (with
details from their Citations) are:
• Officer S
– NZBM (New Zealand Bravery Medal) for an act of
bravery.
Officer S was among the first officers
on the scene on 8 September 2015 after a man with a rifle
opened fire in the McDonald’s restaurant on Main and
Wakefield Streets, Upper Hutt, during a busy lunchtime. As
Officer S and another officer approached the restaurant, the
gunman shot at them from the restaurant entrance.
They
dropped to the ground then moved forward behind the cover of
a truck, and saw the gunman leave the restaurant.
Officer
S challenged him to drop the rifle and surrender but the
gunman responded by repeatedly challenging Officer S to
shoot him.
Two other officers challenged the gunman and
released a police dog.
The gunman turned and raised his
rifle at the officers and Officer S, perceiving an immediate
risk, fired, hitting the gunman, who died at the scene
despite receiving immediate first aid.
Police Officer S
demonstrated bravery in engaging an unpredictable armed
offender to attempt a peaceful resolution, having already
been shot at, and acted swiftly to prevent harm to his
fellow officers.
• Mr Michael Scott RILEY -
NZBD (New Zealand Bravery Decoration) for an act of
exceptional bravery in a situation of
danger.
Civilian nominated by
Police.
Mr Riley, a staff member, was in the
office of McDonald’s on Main and Wakefield Streets, Upper
Hutt, on 8 September 2015 when he learned a man was at the
counter with a rifle.
He went to the counter, where the
gunman pointed the rifle at him and demanded that everyone
leave, firing a shot into the ceiling.
Mr Riley asked if
he could direct customers and staff out, and after doing so
returned to check the toilets.
The gunman told him to
hurry or he would shoot him.
As Mr Riley then went to
leave, the gunman demanded a burger, then changed his
mind.
As Mr Riley left he heard the gunman shoot at
Police.
He told staff to stay behind cars in the car park
and directed three women in a nearby car to also take
cover.
He used a road cone to close the driveway before
joining his colleagues sheltering until Police resolved the
incident.
He remained calm and demonstrated exceptional
bravery by engaging with the unpredictable gunman to ensure
the safety of customers and staff.
• Ms Jude
Simpson, MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for
services to the prevention of domestic violence.
Ms Simpson is a family harm training advisor at
the Royal New Zealand Police College.
Prior to this she
has drawn on her own personal experience of abuse,
publishing a book ‘Lost and Found: A Woman’s Living
Proof’; has facilitated family violence workshops across
New Zealand for the public sector and other organisations;
is closely involved with “It’s Not OK” campaign and is
a respected family violence prevention
advocate.
• Inspector Tracy Phillips, MNZM
(Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to
the New Zealand Police and the community.
Inspector Phillips, Senior Professional Conduct
Manager, based in Tamaki Makaurau, has delivered a range of
projects beyond the scope of her assigned roles. She’s a
strong advocate in supporting diversity within police,
particularly with the Rainbow Community. This has included
support for diversity friendly policies within Police and an
operational diversity liaison officer network. Inspector
Phillips initiated the Paint the Cells project at the
Counties Manukau District custodial hub, enlisting artists
from the community to brighten the cells for those spending
time in the unit.
• Senior Constable Phillip
Taylor, MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for
services to the New Zealand Police and the
community.
Senior Constable Phillips is a
narcotics detector dog handler based in Rotorua. A police
officer since 1972, he’s been a dog handler since 1996 and
his specialist skills have contributed to numerous
successful drug operations in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
He’s also played a key role in developing a new harness
for detector dogs, has won national police dog championships
and was part of the successful NZ Police team in Australia
two years ago. Senior Constable Taylor is also actively
involved in a voluntary capacity with the Rotorua Pistol
Club. His expertise in range safety and security ensures
events around the country are run to international
standards.
• Detective Constable Fiao’o
Faamausili, ONZM (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit)
for services to rugby.
Detective Constable
Faamausili works with Counties Manukau CIB and joined police
in 2010. Her citation is for her role with rugby,
reflecting her captaincy of the Black Ferns since 2012. She
is the most capped Black Ferns at 52 caps, has represented
New Zealand at each of the five Rugby Women’s World Cup
tournaments since 2002.
The Black Ferns were also
recognised as the World Rugby’s 2017 team of the year, as
well as team of the year at the 2017 New Zealand Rugby
awards.
• Constable Laura Mariu, MNZM (Member
of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to rugby
league.
Constable Mariu, who graduated from the
Royal NZ Police College in May this year, works in Counties
Manukau. She has represented New Zealand in karate,
softball, touch rugby, tag football and rugby league.
She debuted as a Kiwi Fern at 19 and has since represented New Zealand in all five Women’s Rugby League World Cups since its inception in 2000. She was captain for the 2017 World Cup squad which finished runners-up, and been a member of three winning World Cup teams. In addition to playing at national and international level, she also coaches a school girls’ rugby league team.
Reactions from NZ Police recipients to Honours List announcements:
Officer S – New Zealand
Bravery Medal
(Please note that the officer’s
identity is protected).
Officer S says the circumstances
of what took place in Upper Hutt make this New Zealand
Bravery Medal a very special one.
“When I responded to
the incident my focus was on keeping the community safe.
That was the priority for all of us that day.
“My main
concern was ensuring the immediate area was cleared of
civilians as quickly and safely as possible, as we worked to
prevent the situation from escalating given that shots had
been fired.
“What unfolded was not the ending anyone
would wish for but the lives of my colleagues were at
immediate risk.”
Senior Constable Phillip Taylor
MNZM, Bay of Plenty District
Senior Constable
Taylor, known as ‘Tiny’ to many people both in and
outside Police, says he’s both “embarrassed and
surprised” by the award.
“There’s a lot of good
people out there who do so much in police and in Rotorua,”
he says. “I love my work as a dog handler and the
opportunities it has brought.”
The veteran dog handler
who joined police in 1972 as a member of the Ted Hotham
Cadet Wing has spent most of his career in the Bay of
Plenty. He’s had five operational police dogs and has won
national police detector dog titles twice with previous dog
Kaos. He has been a nationals finalist three times with
current narcotic detector dog Murphy.
In 2016 Senior
Constable Taylor and Murphy represented New Zealand Police
as part of the victorious team of three New Zealand Police
dog section handlers and dogs in a trans Tasman
competition.
Inspector Tracy Phillips MNZM, PNHQ,
Tamaki Makaurau based
Inspector Tracy Phillips,
the Senior Police Conduct Manager based in Tamaki Makaurau,
says she’s “shocked and humbled” by the award.
“It’s pretty special but I’m part of a wider team
who really share this award. I’m a firm believer that if
you’re positive, look for opportunities to make a
difference in people’s lives and treat people right, then
good things can happen.” She’s proud of her work to
strengthen engagement with the Rainbow community, building
trust and confidence between police and the
sector.
“Diversity is one of our core Police values and
this includes the Rainbow community who traditionally have
not always been comfortable in approaching police.
I’m
just one of the team who, working in a leadership role, can
help make a difference.
I’m just getting started.”
Jude Simpson MNZM, Royal
New Zealand Police College
Ms Jude Simpson says
she was “overwhelmed” to learn of the award, and humbled
by those who considered her achievements deserved
it.
“Family violence is often talked about and while
many changes have been made to make a difference, there’s
still a lot of work to do in reducing and preventing the
level of family harm in this country.
“I never imagined
that my personal experiences of family violence would lead
me into becoming a family violence advocate, writing a book,
running workshops, becoming involved with the It’s Not OK
campaign and see me working as a family violence advocate
across the sector. I certainly never imagined I’d get an
award for it.”
Ms Simpson had been sharing her
knowledge and experiences with a range of police training
courses for several years after working in a prevention role
with Presbyterian Support Northern and other agencies in the
family violence prevention space. She became a fulltime
employee with police in October 2014 and works at the Royal
New Zealand Police College as a training advisor in family
harm. Ms Simpson has been instrumental in developing new
family harm and prevention training for police
recruits.
“Preventing and reducing the level of hurt
caused through family harm requires the involvement of
everyone,” she says. “To get real success organisations
need to work together to understand the causes of family
harm, victims and the perpetrators.
“My role is far
from over.”
Detective Constable Fiao’o
Faamausili ONZM, Counties Manukau
Police
Juggling policing with national and
international rugby is all in a day’s work for Detective
Constable Fiao’o Faamausili.
The most capped Black Fern
and captain since 2012 says she didn’t know how to react
when advised of a Royal Honour.
Winning four out of five
World Rugby titles, World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby team
awards last year were amazing she says, but this latest
honour had to take some thinking about. I owe this honour
to my team mates and family. If it wasn’t for them then
this moment would not have been possible.
“I decided
it’s not about me, it’s about the team, and about
encouraging people into sport.
“I’m blessed to be
doing what I do, both on the rugby field and in
police.”
She admits the last two years have been a bit
of a juggle and required hard work as she balanced
international rugby commitments with working as well as
studying and completing modules for her fledgling CIB
career.
“It’s been an intense time but I’m doing
it. Outside of rugby my next big goal is to get my gold
badge and become a qualified
detective.”
Constable Laura Mariu MNZM, Counties
Manukau
It’s been a big 12 months for Kiwi
Fern captain Constable Laura Mariu combining international
rugby league success with graduating in May from the Royal
New Zealand Police College.
Three weeks into her new
policing career in Counties Manukau, Constable Mariu says
the MNZM is a huge honour, and one she is very humbled to
receive.
“I never expected anything like this. It was
huge enough to represent my country in rugby league and win
international titles.” She’s played for New Zealand in
five Women’s Rugby League World Cups, and was appointed
captain last year. The Kiwi Ferns won titles in 2000, 2003
and 2008 and were runners-up last year. Constable Mariu says
sport has always been a big part of her life, and paid
tribute to the teams she has been involved with, as well as
her family.
She’ll be spending Queen’s Birthday
Weekend playing in the league nationals in
Auckland.
ENDS