Big lessons to be learned in 'small town policing'

Detective Stacey Bailey, of Napier police, has been in the force for more than 14 years.

The Police staff torch relay to mark 75 Years of Women in Policing is on its way around New Zealand and will arrive in Hawke's Bay this week. To mark the occasion Hawke's Bay Today will ask a local police woman about her time in the force each day for the rest of this week. Today, Detective Stacey Bailey.

What ignited your passion to join the force?

I was 21 when I joined. My stepfather was in the police, as was a close family friend. I could see the passion they had for the job at that time, and wanted to be a part of that.

Where was your first post and where has your career taken you?

I was first posted to my home town in Wairoa. I spent three years on the frontline there, where I learnt a lot about "small town policing". It was great. I learnt things that I never would've learnt in a bigger centre ... finger printing and photographing my own crime scenes. A lot of the time I was working alone at night - I soon learnt that the best tool on my duty belt was my communication skills and treating everybody with respect.

I transferred to Hastings in 2004 with the Road Policing branch. After spending two years there Miss Bailey transferred back to the front line in Hastings. In 2008 she started a family and trained to be a detective.

Do you have a favourite/least favourite part of the job?

Favourite - meeting all sorts of people. Least favourite - having to tell families their loved ones aren't coming home after attending unnecessary and preventable deaths. Dealing with repeat family violence offenders. It breaks my heart going into homes knowing what the children are witnessing and experiencing. I just want to fix things, but it's not that easy.

Do you have a story you would like to share?

I went to a firearms incident in Wairoa years ago. It was just me and another officer. It had been reported a male at the address was intoxicated and had discharged a firearm. Family members at the address had taken the firearm off him and secured it, awaiting police. When we arrived, the intoxicated party-goers became confrontational and denied any knowledge of the firearm. While my partner distracted them, I snuck around the back of the group and into the house. An older women handed me the rifle, then I snuck out the side door of the house. As I went to leave, they saw me and started to chase me. I had no option but to start jumping boundary fences into neighbouring properties to get away. Meanwhile, my partner managed to get back into the patrol car, and drive down the road, to collect me from another address. Once the adrenaline wore off and I realised what had actually just happened - I counted my lucky stars I got out of there and didn't get caught.

What do you think about this celebration?

This is very symbolic event for the police family, both the men and women. [It] is the perfect way to celebrate 75 years of women in policing and reflect on how police women have developed within the police over that time.

What do you do in your spare time?

I am a courier driver for my young children. We have something on every day of the week except Sunday - Ballet, swimming, rugby, Gym, cricket - I wouldn't have it any other way.