Former ‘prima ballerina’ among graduating police officers

A former principal dancer with The Royal New Zealand Ballet is among 56 new police officers to graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College this week.

Karin Wakefield danced with The Royal New Zealand Ballet from 1979 to1996 and then helped to teach dancers in the company. More recently she has been teaching internationally. Her decision to join Police was prompted by a realisation that time was running out to fulfil her second dream-career of becoming a police officer.

"I wanted a career based in New Zealand and something really challenging. Policing is something I’ve always wanted to do," says Karin.

Also among the wing is the niece of Cook Islands Police Commissioner Pira Wichman. Commissioner Wichman will be attending the graduation.

John Walker, who is the wing’s patron and has inspired and motivated the wing during their training, will also be present.

56 recruits will graduate, 41 males and 15 females

20 recruits will be posted to Auckland districts

17 recruits will be posted to Wellington

17 recruits will be posted to other North Island districts

2 recruits will be posted to the South Island

The graduation will be held at the Police College in Porirua at 2:00pm on Thursday 10 February.

Postings in detail:

Auckland Central (6), Avondale (3), Glen Innes (4), Hawera (1), Henderson (1), Invercargill (1), Kaikohe (1), Kaitaia (1), Lower Hutt (5), Masterton (1), Morrinsville (1), Palmerston North (2), Papakura (1), Porirua Traffic Alcohol Group (1), Queenstown (1), Rotorua (2), Takapuna (5), Taumarunui (1), Tauranga (4), Te Kuiti (1), Tokoroa (1), Upper Hutt (1), Wanganui (2), Wellington (9).

Wing 221 prize winners:

Minister’s Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Robert GIBSON posted to Auckland Central.

Commissioner’s Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Jonathan BAGULEY posted to Tauranga.

Patron’s Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Stephen DUNN posted to Palmerston North.

International Police Association Academic Prize (overall winner for academic exams) was awarded to Constable Robert GIBSON posted to Auckland Central.

Ericsson Practical Prize (overall winner for practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting) was awarded to Constable Peter THEOBALD posted to Wellington.

The HOLDEN Tactical Skills and Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) was awarded to Constable Bevan SHEFFIELD-CRANSTOUN posted to Lower Hutt.

Pre-Graduation Prize List:

The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award was awarded to Constable Renata BORCK posted to Lower Hutt.

The Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training was awarded to Constable Renata BORCK posted to Lower Hutt.

The Driver Training Award was awarded to Constable Bevan SHEFFIELD-CRANSTOUN posted to Lower Hutt.

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 Stuart BLAKE, posted to Lower Hutt.

Section Two - Constable Sefili MOSA’ATI, posted to Glen Innes.

Section Three - Constable Marco VAN DEN BROEK, posted to Takapuna.

Wing Patron: John Walker

John Walker is an icon of New Zealand sport. During his 18-year international career he won the 1976 Montreal Olympic 1500m gold medal, was the first person to break 3min 50s for the mile and won three Commonwealth Games medals. His last international race was in 1990 when he made the final of the Auckland Commonwealth Games 1500m, only to be tripped early in the race. In 1996 he announced that he was suffering from Parkinson's Disease, but vowed it wouldn’t stop him from doing things. He and his wife Helen have four children and run an equestrian shop south of Auckland. He is also a Manukau City Councillor.

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