Modern policing is about teamwork, interpersonal skills, talking and tolerance
KEY POINTS:
If you want to be in a job that's community-focused, has plenty of variety and is reasonably well paid, the New Zealand Police may be your answer.
James Whitaker, marketing and communications manager, recruitment/public affairs NZ Police, says as far as recruiting goes: "We're seeking the same talent that many other employers are trying to attract. Our perfect candidate would be someone with great interpersonal skills who can communicate well with others in all sorts of situations, some of which will be quite stressful.
"They need to be sharp enough to pass our assessments, fit enough to pass our fitness tests and, on top of that, honest, confident, professional and non-judgmental.
"Most `wings' [intakes to the college] include people aged from 18 through to a couple of people in their 40s, with the majority being late 20s to early 30s."
A recent Gallup Employee Engagement Survey found that almost a quarter of New Zealand's police officers were unhappy in their jobs, but Whitaker says that did not tell the whole story. He said that people indicated that they wanted more encouragement when they did a good job.
But the job is of a transitory nature - your boss can move to another department, so at times there can be less recognition than desired. He says senior officers also sometimes don't see the point of commenting when you're doing your job well - that's just expected.
James Seaton graduated from the police college 11 months ago. His course took 19 weeks. He is now spending two years as a probationary constable. He says he chose to join the police because of the varied experiences he would have. "I didn't want to be in a job that was at a desk all day." He also wanted to do something for the community.
He joined the force straight out of high school. "The police have exceeded my expectations. It's been an awesome career choice - I get to see things and do things. I deal with all different ethnicities and interact with all sorts of people."
Seaton said one of the reasons he signed up was because of the huge scope in career development. "There are at least 50 areas you can go into. There's the dog unit, the dive squad, youth education and more."
The police finance university or other study for members of the force.
Tia Winikerei, who has been in the police for 11 years, spent February to December last year studying Maori at Te Wananga o Takiura in Mt Roskill.
"It was a fantastic course which provided full immersion," she says. "I was brought up in a Maori community -- but I wasn't fluent in the language. It was important to me that my learning of the language was supported by the police. I was given a full-year sabbatical while still employed."
Winikerei says if you want to study through the police, you have to apply. She applied in 2006 and was declined, but was accepted when she re-applied in 2007.
Seaton says if you want to study something that is not related to your police work, half your fees will be covered.
Winikerei points out that studying with the police is give and take - there is a bonding period if the force pays for your education, which is agreed to on an individual basis. To be approved, you have to show a commitment to the police and explain the benefits that can come out of it. Also, your study is only paid for once you pass.
Winikerei said her reasons for going into the police force were varied. "I regarded it as a good job to have when I was in high school. It seemed to have variety and I didn't want to be stuck in an office behind a computer. Also, I had a great sense of the importance of fairness - I wanted to help make things fair."
Winikerei is happy with her choice and wouldn't wish to go back and change it.
"Of course, there are difficulties and stresses in the job but, on the whole, I feel I'm in a privileged position. I get exposed to things the general person wouldn't encounter ... I learn something from every experience and I know that I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't had this job."
For the past six months, Winikerei has taken up an iwi (Maori) liaison officers role in Auckland City. "Like all officers, I started off with frontline duties -- 111 calls. I was seconded to the America's Cup for six months in 1999-2000. I spent six to seven years in investigations, then five years in the CIB [Criminal Investigation Branch]."
She says her current role is about building and maintaining good relations between police and Maori. She has also been involved in recruiting Maori for the police force.
As far as police culture is concerned, Seaton says he doesn't really understand the question in relation to the police force.
"As diverse in ethnicity, gender, age and culture that New Zealand is, so is the New Zealand Police ... There is no specific mould that you have to live up to - all that you have to do is realise that you are part of a team. Differences are tolerated."
Seaton says teamwork enables police officers to deal with everyday "hairy situations".
"You always know you have support. Someone is watching your back."
He says the attributes of a good police officer include physical fitness, the ability to work as part of a team, thinking on your feet, common sense - not just book knowledge - and an appreciation of community differences and cultural beliefs.
Winikerei says she thinks the term "police culture" has negative connotations. "I don't think there is any pressure to be one way or another. In fact, I have always experienced tremendous support from the people I work with. Policing is a team business.
"Being a woman in the force has its differences - but I don't think it's as tough as it used to be. The organisation is accepting of women and their contribution. We are still a minority in the force, but I think that's about the nature of the work.
"Being a woman has its advantages. I find offenders are less likely to pick a fight with me than with a big, burly man. I find communication is my big skill. It's about treating people the way you want to be treated."
She says there have been times when she has been fearful, but not often. "That's where the support of the team comes in and those all-important communication skills."
Police officers have access to counselling. "During my time dealing with child abuse, six-monthly assessments were routine."
Winikerei says there are times she still gets sad when dealing with certain matters - "but I'm never surprised. I manage to move out of the emotional thing and get the job done, but sometimes the situations are not particularly nice.
"Some things will affect some people, others will be affected by other things. It depends what triggers you."
Seaton says he can imagine being in the force for 30 to 40 years. "The opportunities are so vast. Age is on my side - I'm young and will experience all sorts of things in the force. I'm loving it. When I wake up in the morning I want to go to work."
Whitaker suggests that people who want to join the force should be already working in community organisations. "Coaching a local sports team - something like that shows that you're interested in the community. That's something that's important to us."
He suggests those interested look at the website newcops.co.nz, which has an online test to see if you fit the bill.
