" Two police officers awarded Queen’s Birthday Honours"

One of New Zealand Police’s most experienced investigators and another officer working to improve the lives of at risk young people are recipients of Royal Honours in the Queen’s Birthday list announced today.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Lovelock, Auckland, and Sergeant Rob Woodley, Counties Manukau, become Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said he was very proud that the work and achievements of both officers in their specialist fields had been recognised.

Detective Superintendent Lovelock’s ONZM is for services to New Zealand Police and the community.

He has oversight of all criminal investigations undertaken in Northland, Waitemata, Auckland City, Counties Manukau, Waikato and Bay of Plenty police districts, was appointed an advisor to the select committee considering legislation to enact the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 and played a leading role to ensure the Act’s implementation within police.

Detective Superintendent Lovelock has also led sensitive and high public interest cases, including last year’s review of the 1970 double homicide of Harvey and Jeanette Crewe.

He joined NZ Police in 1975 and from 1996 to mid 1999 he was Chief of Police in Niue, influencing positive changes in policing practice, civil defence planning and prison management. On his return he worked as a Detective Inspector and field crime manager for Auckland, and was seconded to the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct from 2004 to 2006.

Sergeant Rob Woodley’s ONZM is for services to New Zealand Police and youth.

He’s devoted the past 14 of his 20 years in police, to growing the Genesis Youth Trust – New Zealand’s largest police affiliated youth development programme which works with the most at risk, disadvantaged and challenging young people.

Under Sergeant Woodley’s leadership the Trust has grown from a staff of three to 23 in a mixed Police/Trust funded model and has expanded the Trust’s area of operations from Mangere into Manukau West, Auckland East and Papakura.

The Trust provides a seamless holistic service for youth offenders and their whanau involving youth workers, social workers and family counsellors.

With an annual case load of more than 200 young people, Genesis Youth Trust has achieves high levels of non reoffending.

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