New Year’s Royal Honours for two police officers
"New Year’s Royal Honours for two police officers"
Two police officers with extensive
investigation or prevention and community policing expertise
are recipients of Royal Honours in the New Year list
announced today.
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald,
former Canterbury District Investigations Manager and now
New Zealand Police Liaison Officer in Canberra, becomes an
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for
services to New Zealand Police and the community.
Senior Constable Russ Smith, the Prevention, Youth and
Community officer in Blenheim, Tasman District, becomes a
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his
services to Police and to youth.
“This is
fantastic news and reflects their dedicated work and the
high regard in which they’re held,” Commissioner Mike
Bush said.
“Tom is one of our most experienced
and respected investigators, having led numerous serious
crime and high profile homicide teams in Canterbury and
Southern Districts.
He is renowned for his focused, high
performing approach combined with a desire to do what is
right for victims."
“Russ’s forte is prevention,
seeking out opportunities to develop and implement
initiatives and programmes that benefit young people and
others in the Marlborough Area.
“It’s great to see
two officers who really understand policing being recognised
with these honours.
We’re proud of them both.”
Detective Inspector Fitzgerald joined police in 1991 and
has been an investigator since 1994.
His citation
acknowledges his excellence in serious crime investigations
and his work overseeing the Commission of Inquiry into the
Pike River Coal Mine explosion and fatalities.
He was
also instrumental in developing and implementing the
national Confidential Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS)
management model.
Under Detective Inspector
Fitzgerald’s leadership a multi-level training programme
was introduced including the first level four CHIS
management course in New Zealand, the highest accreditation
that can be attained internationally.
He has also written and delivered CHIS management training courses internationally.
Senior Constable Smith has been
working in community and prevention roles in Blenheim since
1996, apart from a six month deployment to Timor Leste in
2010. A champion for youth and community based solutions,
the citation makes special mention of Senior Constable
Smith’s role in leading the Marlborough Youth Trust as
chairman since 2007, his involvement with the Safe and Sound
at the Top advisory group, his longstanding work with
Marlborough Blue Light and the Combined Adolescent Challenge
Training Unit and Support (CACTUS) programme in schools.
Other activities include implementing an education and
pastoral care package for Recognised Seasonal Employees in
Marlborough and a project working with communities to
physically clean up streets and properties, fostering pride
within neighbourhoods.
The police recipients are surprised and delighted by news of their awards.
Detective Inspector Fitzgerald says it’s “incredibly humbling” that peers have taken the time to nominate him.
“I take a lot of pride as an investigator,
leading and mentoring high performing teams.
It’s an
honour to lead investigations, and an honour to work for
victims in the most tragic of circumstances.”
He’s especially proud of what is being achieved
through CHIS and the interview management model.
“It’s world leading and I’m lucky to have had executive support which values the role of CHIS and its importance to policing.”
Prevention is the heartbeat of policing, says Senior Constable Smith who is “thrilled to bits” with the community focus of his award.
“Working together with youth and community
groups instead of in silos is really rewarding.
Programmes such as CACTUS and the mini PCT challenges we run
in colleges with Blue Light are opportunities for young
people to see police in a positive light.”
He has
been involved with the Marlborough Youth Trust for more than
10 years, working with young people at all levels across the
community, including those at risk.
“Taking the time to listen to ideas from young people, working out together what is feasible and what’s not, being open and flexible to change is what drives community spirit.”
Recipients of New Year Honours will be invested with their awards by the Governor General in ceremonies at a date to be announced.