Top Communicator Tops The Wing - Police Graduation Tomorrow

36 new constables will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College in Wing 262 tomorrow. Their wing patron is Bob Parker, Mayor of Christchurch.

From Police Employees to Police Constables

Of the 36 new constables, 7 have worked for the Police in non-constabulary roles before making the move to the frontline. Constable Karl Hensley is one who has made that move. For 18 months before entering The Royal New Zealand Police College, Constable Hensley worked as a communicator in the Police Southern Communications Centre. Constable Hensley says working as a communicator helped him during his time at the college as he was already familiar with the codes, computer systems and Police terminology.

"I am looking forward to helping people face to face rather than over the phone as I did previously."

Constable Hensley will walk away tomorrow with the Minister’s Prize for First in Wing and the Ericsson Practical Prize for the overall winner for practical assessments, skills files and forensic fingerprinting. Constable Hensley has been posted to Christchurch.

Fit bunch fits the Bill

Wing 262 includes national representatives in swimming, hockey, rugby and football. A number are accomplished tri-athletes with one competing in the gut-wrenching Coast to Coast and another competing in the world famous Kona Ironman in Hawaii.

Of the 36 new constables 28 are men and 8 are women. The youngest to graduate is 19 years old and the oldest is 45.

The majority of Wing 262 has been posted to stations in the Canterbury and Counties Manukau Police Districts.

They will be posted to:

Canterbury - Christchurch (12), Timaru (2)
Tasman - Nelson (1)
Auckland - Auckland City (1)
Counties Manukau - Papakura (4), Otahuhu (8), Howick (2), Pukekohe (2), Manurewa (4)

Wing 262 prize winners:

• Minister's Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Karl Hensley, posted to Christchurch. Constable Hensley was also awarded the Ericsson Practical Prize for the overall winner for practical assessments, skills files & forensic fingerprinting.

• Commissioner's Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Adam Chambers, posted to Christchurch.

• Patron's Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Shanon Barnett, posted to Otahuhu. Constable Barnett was also awarded the International Police Association Academic Prize (overall winner for Academic Exams 1, 2 & 3).

• The Holden Tactical Skills & Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms & driving) was awarded to Constable Deon van Schalkwyk, posted to Christchurch. Constable van Schalkwyk was also awarded the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award and the Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training.

• The Intergraph Computer Skills Prize (overall winner in computer studies) was awarded to Constable Christopher Painter, posted to Auckland City.

• The Driver Training Award was awarded to Constable Chris Buckley, posted to Christchurch.

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 Rick Groen, posted to Christchurch.
• Section Two Constable Kelly Tahapehi, posted to Christchurch.

Wing Patron: Bob Parker

Bob Parker was born in Christchurch in 1953, and grew up in the hillside community of Heathcote before moving to Somerfield when he was 11.

Bob went to South Intermediate and Cashmere High Schools and did an intermediate year in Zoology at Canterbury University.

He began his career as a pharmacist before moving into radio in Nelson in 1974.

His broadcasting career took him to Wellington and then Auckland. He made his television debut in 1978 as an announcer for Television One and went on to host variety shows.

In 1984 he bought the rights to one of America's most popular shows - "This is Your Life", a reality series that honours and celebrates the lives of people who have been highly successful in various fields.

Bob hosted "This is Your Life" from 1984 to 1996 during which time he honoured over 36 New Zealanders. The programme gave him a unique insight into the lives of the recipients, looking at the extreme highs and lows that had made them extraordinary. He also enjoyed meeting the family members and friends who supported the recipients and were a big part of their success.

Bob is also an accomplished public speaker and Master of Ceremonies and is invited to officiate at a number of events each year.

Since returning to Christchurch he has immersed himself in local body politics where he has been active since the early 1990s. He initially became a member of the Banks Peninsula District Council and later served two terms as the district’s mayor.

Bob has been a Christchurch City Councillor since 2006 after successfully leading the amalgamation of the Banks Peninsula District Council and the Christchurch City Council.

He was elected Mayor of Christchurch in 2007.

His interests centre on family, the arts, music, movies and live theatre. He loves walking and enjoys anything to do with machinery and how it works. He has three sons and two grandchildren.

Bob currently lives in the central city with his wife Joanna.

Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College, Papakowhai Rd, Porirua, on Thursday 22 July at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Honourable Judith Collins, Minister of Police and Police Commissioner Howard Broad.

ENDS

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