Women take out top awards at police graduation

Women take out top awards at police graduation

Thirty-seven new constables will graduate from the Royal New Zealand Police College in Wing 279 on Thursday, with the top three awards and the leadership award going to women.

Top-class women win

Constable Veronica Benton-Guy has taken out top of the class after 18 weeks of hard work to start a career she has always aspired to.

“I have always wanted to be a police officer and I’m looking forward to making a difference in the community,” says Veronica.

With a background in hospitality and a BSc (Hons), policing offers Veronica a wide range of career paths. She’s thinking about one day moving into forensics.

Second place in the wing went to Constable Megan Blackett, who already had experience of the police environment from her work in a police file management centre. Megan particularly enjoyed the practical, driving and firearms training components, and her enthusiasm for learning is clear as she also won the driving and academic awards.

Constable Michelle Clark won third place in the wing. She joined police for the challenge, leaving a desk job as a legal executive, and seeking ‘better work stories’.

The Leadership Award went to Constable Helen Furniss for showing outstanding leadership, which she also displayed in her previous job at the Northern Communications Centre. Constable Furniss was recognised by her peers at ‘North Comms’ with a performance excellence award for the way in which she dealt with an event involving a car that was continually swerving on a road and needed to be intercepted and stopped.

Members of Wing 279 have been posted to stations in Auckland, Counties-Manukau and Waitemata police districts.

Taking good people and developing great police officers

Sergeant Liam Stewart has come back to the police college, to where it all started for him and his career as a frontline police officer, to pass on his knowledge and skills to recruits. Wing 279 has enjoyed the fresh operational knowledge from Liam as he helped train his first wing of recruits.

“It’s been pleasing to see the recruits taking on the challenging course, working as a team and developing their knowledge, skills and attitudes as they start their career in police. I’ve worked hard to pass on our core values of integrity, professionalism, respect and commitment to Maori and Treaty, and tomorrow’s graduation will be a proud moment for me,” says Liam.

Liam was previously a frontline sergeant working in Porirua.

Wing 279 prize winners:

Minister’s Award for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Veronica Benton-Guy, posted to Auckland. Constable Benton-Guy was also awarded the Prevention Practical Award (overall winner in practical assessments and fingerprinting). The Prevention Award is supported by the Crimestoppers Trust. Commissioner’s Award for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Megan Blackett, posted to Counties-Manukau. Constable Blackett was also awarded the Academic Award (for the overall winner of Academic Exams 1, 2 and 3) and the Driver Training Award (for the top student in all driver training assessments). Patron’s Award for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Michelle Clark, posted to Counties-Manukau. The Leadership Award (in recognition of having demonstrated outstanding leadership and potential to succeed) was awarded to Constable Helen Furniss, posted to Waitemata. Constable Furniss was also awarded the Police Association Section Two prize. The Weapon Training Award (for the top student in all firearms assessments) was awarded to Constable Edwin Henshaw, posted to Waitemata. Constable Henshaw was also awarded the Information Technology Skills Award (overall winner in computer skills and skills files). The Tactical Skills and Safety Award (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) was awarded to Constable Kyle Dicks, posted to Auckland. Constable Dicks was also awarded the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award (top student in all defensive tactics assessments).

Police Association Prizes for Section Achievement:

This prize 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 Charles Fowler, posted to Counties-Manukau Section Two Constable Helen Furniss, posted to Waitemata Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 10 October at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Police Commissioner Peter Marshall.

Ends

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