Police Minister To Present 35-Year New Zealand Police Veterans With Long Service Award
New Zealand Police National News Release
11:12am 25 January 2007

Sixteen police officers who have given 35 years of unbroken service to the New Zealand Police will receive 35 Year Clasps from Police Minister the Hon Annette King on Friday 26 January.

A presentation ceremony will take place at 2.00pm in the Grand Hall at Parliament.

The police officers were members of the Ted Hotham Cadet Wing, which started training at the Trentham Police Training School on 26 January 1972. Twenty-two of the 77 members who graduated from the then 19 month cadet course remain in the Police, but only 18 have unbroken service and are therefore eligible for the 35 Year Clasp. Two of these officers are unable to attend the ceremony.

The long-serving officers have had expansive careers and hold a wide range of roles in the organisation, says Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Marshall.

"They and their families have given a tremendous amount of their lives to the Police and the organisation is so much the better for their long-term commitment. It means we grow with the insight and wisdom that only experience can bring and today they hold key positions of influence in the organisation."

Many have continued to use their experience in frontline policing and are now in charge of police stations around the country.

One is the Officer in Charge of the Wellington Police Dog Section, Senior Sergeant Mark Davidson, and another is a specialist Narcotic Detector Dog Handler, Senior Constable Phillip (Tiny) Taylor from Rotorua, who with his dog Kaos was recently named the country's top narcotic detector dog team.

Training Commander at The Royal New Zealand Police College, Superintendent Alistair (Olly) Beckett, and newly appointed Recruit Training Manager, Inspector Bazz (Kevin) Bailey, are also among the recipients.

Among those from the South Island are the Manager of the Southern Communications Centre Inspector Kieren Kortegast; Sub Area Controller Southern Metro (Christchurch) Senior Sergeant Peter Laloli, who is also Chairman of Christchurch City Council's Riccarton/Wigram Community Board; and Criminal Intelligence Section Supervisor Detective Sergeant John Sjoberg.

Their police careers have included a wide range of experiences. Auckland District Operations Manager, Inspector Brent Holmes, and Recruit Training Manager Inspector Bazz Bailey have worked in many hot spots around the Pacific including East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Bougainville.

Three have received New Year or Queen's Birthday Honours for their work and seven have received Police Awards recognising work on specific cases, overseas deployments or acts of bravery.

Recipients:
Auckland

• 1. Inspector Brent HOLMES, Auckland District Operations Manager
  

Awards:• New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal for his contribution to New Zealand life• NZ Police Bronze Merit Award for work during CHOGM, 1996• NZ Police Commissioner's Commendation for work with RAMSI, 2004• Queen's Service Medal for Public Services, Queen's Birthday Honours, 2000

Bay of Plenty

• 2. Detective Sergeant Mel (Alan) RIDLEY, Detective Sergeant for Tauranga and MtMaunganui

Awards:• NZ Police Commissioner's Commendation for his work on the Bluett homicide, 1998

• 3. Senior Constable Dave PETTINGER, Officer in Charge of a Two Man Station (Edgecumbe)

  4. Senior Constable Tiny (Phillip) TAYLOR. Narcotic Detector Dog Handler for Bay of Plenty/Waikato
  

Awards:• NZ Police Commissioner's Commendation for his work as a narcotic detector dog handler, 2005

Central North Island

• 5. Sergeant Les CLARKE, Officer in Charge of Taihape/Waiouru

  6. Sergeant Noel BIGWOOD, Officer in Charge of Otaki Police Station
  

Awards:• NZ Police Silver Merit Award for rescuing and reviving an unconscious man in contact with electricity supply lines, 1988.

Wellington and The Royal New Zealand Police College

• 7. Sergeant Steve HUGHES, Officer in Charge of Community Services at Upper Hutt

  8. Senior Constable Jim VEALE, Shift Watchhouse Keeper at Upper Hutt

  9. Sergeant Rodger HOUGH, Officer in Charge of Strategic Traffic Unit at Upper Hutt

  10. Senior Sergeant Mark DAVIDSON, Officer in Charge of the Wellington Dog Section
  

Awards:• Charles Upham Award for Bravery and Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal, 1981, for hanging on until help arrived to a deranged hospital patient who was hanging from a slippery roof in windy and rainy conditions, preventing the patient from falling 30m to the ground below.• NZ Police Gold Merit Award for overpowering an armed suiciῤal man who had killed another person, 1993¢ Queen's Service Medal for Public Services, New Year Honours, 2007

• 11. Inspector Bazz (Kevin) BAILEY, Recruit Training Manager, The Royal NZ Police College
  

Awards:• NZ Police Silver Merit Award for leadership of the Fifth East Timor contingent, 2003

• 12. Superintendent Alistair (Olly) BECKETT, National Manager: Training and Professional Development, The Royal NZ Police College
  

Awards:• Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, New Year Honours, 2007

Canterbury

• 13. Senior Sergeant Peter LALOLI, Sub Area Controller: Southern Metro, Canterbury

  14. Senior Constable Keith ROSE, General Duties Constable: Christchurch Airport

  15. Inspector Kieren KORTEGAST, Centre Manager: Southern Communications Centre

  16. Detective Sergeant John SJOBERG, Criminal Intelligence Section Supervisor, Canterbury
  

The two police officers who will receive the 35 Year Clasp, but will not be attending the presentation ceremony at Parliament, are:

Waikato

• 17. Detective Senior Sergeant Michael WHITEHEAD, Field Crime Manager in Hamilton
  

Awards:• NZ Police Commissioner's Commendation for his work on Operation River (kidnapping and robbery)

Eastern North Island

• 18. Sergeant Bob (Robert) GORDON, Officer in Charge of Havelock North Police Station
  

ENDS

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