All present and correct

Greetings. I hope you all had some sort of break over the Christmas/New Year period, or did you work through like me? Loved it, bugger all bosses around, plenty going on, drunk people doing silly things in the name of the festive season, and not too demanding. And the best present for police? Aotearoa mostly behaved itself, especially on New Year’s Eve. Don’t tell me we’re growing up?

Are we getting your best side?

Did I just say the bosses were away? The Frontline Service Model peddled out by our esteemed leader has executive types pounding the beat, just behind flashing cameras, capturing the proof for all to see. It’s a nice sentiment but it seems to be at special events (with lots of cameras). I could recommend a night shift or two, throw in some gnarly family-harm callouts, scene guard in the rain, or any other job with no fanfare. Again, the initiative is nice and I’m glad some are getting paparazzi time, but unless we get more Level 1, frontline, I-car-type responders, it doesn’t really help.

Crouch, bind, set… stall

PNHQ is officially cleaned out (well, maybe some diehards are hanging on). The commissioner’s new team is ready to play ball. What now? I reckon all those things we’ve been waiting on – reviews, tactical response model and so on – will stall even longer while we “wait until these new positions get settled, blah, blah, blah”. Yep, pretty harsh, but like every other government organisation, when there’s a review or change in leadership roles, the universe just stops and sags. The front line? We carry on as normal.

Not-so-suite life sentence

I hear the college has a custody suite for recruits, sorry, to train recruits. That’s really cool, a new facility to prepare our newest and brightest on the need for expert, safe and professional custodial services. Wait till they see the real-world custody suites like a 60-year-old cell block and charge room that is unsafe, filthy to work in and downright sad.

Judith, you crushed it

I’m old enough to appreciate an awesome mix of police ministers over the years. My favourite, Judith “Crusher” Collins, is saying goodbye to politics. No more outstanding one-liners, blunt assessments, best name-calling ever, total disregard for political correctness and every other awesome attribute we love about her. Crusher always says how it is, no mucking about, never minces her words, especially when bad people did bad things. I’m still smiling about the big presser she did with the commissioner after an IPCA release (yeah, that one). Farewell ma’am, it’s been a blast!

Legends, every time

My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by the tragedies at Mt Maunganui, Pāpāmoa and the Mahurangi River near Warkworth. I’m also thinking of all the responders working in those regions, trying to make sense of it all, and doing their best to bring some closure to families. We are so very good at dropping tools and lending a hand all over the country. Even though I take the p@## sometimes, I’m so very proud of everyone who puts their hand up. Legends!