New Zealand Police National News Release

10 December 2007

Amazing Stories Of Bravery And Heroism Celebrated At The New Zealand Police Museum

Exhibition Opening

12 December 2007

Sergeant Jeannette Park will be one of the special guests of the New Zealand Police Museum discovering the heroic stories of NZ Police officers awarded medals for bravery, at the opening of a new long-term exhibition, ALL IN A DAYS WORK, on December 12.

Sgt Park was wounded and her partner Detective Constable Duncan Taylor killed while attending an incident in Manawatu in July 2002. Real-life stories like theirs are celebrated in the exhibition which visitors will find inspiring as well as moving. On Wednesday evening Sgt Park will hand her New Zealand Bravery Star to the museum to be displayed in their collection.

Police work is varied and sometimes dangerous. ALL IN A DAYS WORK features stories of police wresting weapons from murderers, rescuing victims from stormy seas and sacrificing their lives so that others might survive. The exhibition also features the story of Detective Inspector Wallace Chalmers and Detective Sergeant Neville Power, awarded Queen's Police Medals for Gallantry after being shot dead by Victor Wasmuth in Waitakere in 1963. Lessons learned from this tragedy were used when the first Armed Offenders Squad was formed in 1964.

Museum Manager Kamaya Yates says 'All in a Days Work' is the culmination of years of research and hard work by museum staff and will continue to grow as new stories are added. Ms Yates is also hoping to create a travelling exhibition that could be taken to Police districts around the country, and other events and activity programmes at the museum that encourage visitors to have a more hands-on experience. "It is a privilege to be able to share these stories of bravery and selflessness with the public," she says.

"ALL IN A DAYS WORK asks visitors to share in the joy and tragedy that Police sometimes face, in a job where no two days are the same and at any moment you may be asked to draw upon all your strength, courage and determination just to get through."

The exhibition will be opened by Superintendent Mike Wilson, Acting Training Commander at The Royal NZ Police College where the Museum is located. The ceremony begins at 6.30pm and will be attended by family members of the medal recipients, Police national managers and member of the 'Friends of the Police Museum'.

ENDS

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