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Thread ID: 130142	2013-03-28 02:10:00	From the Police Commissioner March 28 2013	WalOne (4202)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1334379	2013-03-28 02:10:00	Difficult jobs, done well March 28, 2013 As I read reports from around the country I’m continually impressed with the difficult tasks our personnel confront and the results they achieve in a professional and humane manner. I applaud staff on major investigations such as the Rae Portman homicide in South Auckland and Operation Webb, which has led to two arrests for the murder of Amandeep Singh in Gisborne. Investigators working on Operation Kingswood, the murder of George Taiaroa near Atiamuri, have my best wishes and full confidence of a result. On a different scale, I heard a story which shows how routine tasks can have unexpected results and which reflects great work in rural areas. A car failed to stop for an officer near National Park and the area was cordoned and searched. Officers found a Mothers Motorcycle Club gang member down a track changing his car registration plates and arrested him - and a police dog located methamphetamine, cash and a starting pistol hidden nearby. Well done everybody, and extra biscuits to the dog. Great work too from Hamilton, where a would-be robber pulled a gun on a couple walking at night – and found himself face down, disarmed and under arrest. His 'victims' were off-duty police officers - a bad choice - and they showed commendable courage in an alarming situation. To restore our faith in human nature, the couple had attended a charity event which raised a magnificent $74,000 for medical treatment for Waikato dog handler Constable Blair Spalding. You can find out more about the campaign here. Elsewhere, last week at Marlborough RSA I had the honour of presenting Defence Service Medals to more than 20 recipients. It caused me to reflect on the many times Police and Defence personnel have worked side by side, from Mt Erebus to Timor Leste to the Christchurch Red Zone to Rugby World Cup. With Anzac Day looming I'm urging Police staff to get out and make our service highly visible on this important day. This talk of events in the districts reminds me of my aim of getting out of headquarters two days a week, which means striking a balance with attendance at Select Committees, Ministerial briefings and the like. Despite that, I’m scheduled for some frontline experience soon without leaving the capital - a weekend late shift, up to 2am, with Wellington District. Luckily I've got my PCT, which means I can be operationally deployed! However, the other side of my role has been front of mind, with a Select Committee hearing yesterday questioning Deputy Commissioners Viv Rickard and Mike Bush and myself in relation to Dame Margaret Bazley's Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct, the report of which in 2007 was such a landmark for Police. We acquitted ourselves well yesterday but it's clear we must remain vigilant - any slippage will have implications for our reputation and, of course, for complainants who need our help. I receive lots of letters from people who interact with police and are impressed by our willingness to go the extra mile. For example, Inspector Dave Parsons, who’s retiring after more than 50 years in public service, recently told me why he joined Police. When he was about six he was taken to Dunedin to see the Queen. He was standing behind a barricade and couldn't see a thing. Then a huge police officer picked him up and put him on a vantage point - that was what made his mind up about his future career. I was reminded of the other extreme after I went to help tourists I saw studying a map in Wellington. A gentleman came up to say he was very impressed to see that. He said in America as a young man he asked a police officer for directions and got the reply "What do you think I am, a ******* road directory?” This still rankled 50-plus years later. We should never underestimate the impact of courtesy. I hope those of you who have cause to speak to police over the weekend will find us courteous. We want another zero Easter road toll, so anyone going more than 4kmh over the limit stands a good chance of a roadside chat with one of us. If you're driving, please do so sensibly and lawfully. We make no apology for robust policing which saves lives. Finally, Monday is the second anniversary of my becoming Commissioner. I look forward to an energetic final year, still with an emphasis on getting out and addressing districts' operational needs, balanced with my government obligations. Stay safe and look after each other - and have a happy Easter. Peter Marshall	WalOne (4202)
1334380	2013-03-28 02:42:00	He is definitely a good bugger.	prefect (6291)
1334381	2013-03-28 05:39:00	I remember watching the queen go by when I was a young fellow in Invercargill during the 1950s. A big policeman never came along and lifted me up so that I could see. No wonder I never joined the Police Force.	Bobh (5192)
1334382	2013-03-28 05:44:00	I remember watching the queen go by when I was a young fellow in Invercargill during the 1950s. A big policeman never came along and lifted me up so that I could see. No wonder I never joined the Police Force. Perhaps that big policeman was tired out from lifting kids up onto vantage points in Dunedin....	johcar (6283)
1334383	2013-03-28 05:46:00	I remember watching the queen go by when I was a young fellow in Invercargill during the 1950s. A big policeman never came along and lifted me up so that I could see. No wonder I never joined the Police Force. Invercargill say no more.	prefect (6291)
1334384	2013-03-28 22:06:00	Its funny but we hardly ever see Peter Marshall on tv. But other polcie commissioners were on tv every week or so. Is he shy?	Digby (677)
1334385	2013-03-28 22:26:00	Its funny but we hardly ever see Peter Marshall on tv. But other polcie commissioners were on tv every week or so. Is he shy? Probably he is more interested in doing his job rather than playing politics like some of the guys he replaced.	CliveM (6007)
1334386	2013-03-28 23:27:00	I got picked out of the crowd by a policeman (probably the first I had met - I was a country kid) at the Royal Show in Invercargill that year (1952?), and put between the policemen lining the way into the Showgrounds for the Royals.	R.M. (561)
1334387	2013-03-28 23:37:00	The royals used to come to my home village in the UK every Christmas for the boxing day shoot, held by the Queens cousin Countess Mountbatten daughter of Lord Louie, and as I used to do beating as a kid to earn money I have met most of them except the younger generation	gary67 (56)
1334388	2013-03-29 00:25:00	as I used to do beating as a kid to earn money I have met most of them except the younger generation I didn't know they were masochists, I hope you were not too cruel.	Cicero (40)
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