He's the most tip top, Top Cat

It is no surprise that the appointment of Commissioner Richard Chambers is universally celebrated, especially by the frontline. I bet there’s now a few commissioned officers trying their absolute best to work out how they can justify their roles, roles that seemed to appear at random under the last administration. If you know any moving truck companies, tell them to hang around PNHQ. They may get a fair amount of work shortly. The new commissioner has his work cut out for him and getting his A team in place will be a priority. Wonder if he needs a blog writer?

Let's break the mould

Speaking of the new commissioner, it looks like he has had his introduction to where the line between operational policing and politics gets blurred. I can’t see how, except for winning votes, opening an Auckland Central Police station 2km from the current station is a priority when we have stations not fit for habitation, unsafe cell blocks, leaky roofs and loads of other problems. Spending money on another Auckland building shouldn’t be top of the priority pile. Commissioner, you need to draw a line, quickly. What’s right for policing won’t always be right for politicians in power. It is your job to push back when that is the case.

A load of old cobblers

Recently, a cop told his supervisor his boots were worn out. He was told to take them to a cobbler. Now, I’m no footwear expert, but I’m fairly sure once our general-purpose boots are stuffed, they need replacing. Are some of our managers’ money-saving attitudes getting a little ridiculous?

Seems true to form

I got notice the other day about the upcoming overtime rules. As usual, Police complicated it and – wait for it – we have a new form to be filled out and approved by a senior officer. So a hard working rural cop in the middle of nowhere, attending to someone in his community, must contact some senior officer for permission to work past his knock-off time to drive home? I could be wrong, and I hope the districts use some common sense around it. Hopefully, the manager who likes “cobblers” isn’t asked for their opinion.

Is the rough patch over?

I put my hand up. I had some doubts about the Gangs Act and taking patches. I saw it as just another political initiative that pours on more work and increases our risk. Driving around, I didn’t see a patch, not one, and I usually do. Now, I find myself cautiously optimistic with the gang legislation as well as the mental health response changes (when Health catches up). Are we slowly morphing back into actual police officers? Doing actual police work? By the way, Auckland has bragging rights for the seizure of the Head Hunters president’s patches. Outstanding.

The more things change…

2024 has been a year of change. Pretty much the last decade has been. We work in an environment of ever-increasing risk, demand, expectation and exposure. Policing is getting harder, but it is still the best job in the world, with the best people. Everything we do is in the public eye. Sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot (patch-wearing TikTok officer, groan) but most of the time we get on with the job with the best intentions. No-one does what we do, day in and day out. I made some mistakes in the past 12 months or so, but I can hold my head up high, knowing I gave my colleagues and my communities the best I could give. You can hold yours up high, too.

I hope you and your families have a great Christmas-New Year period.

Stay safe out there.