The 111 Files: Abuse of alcohol keeps police busy

Rotorua police's frontline staff are a dedicated bunch who would probably be out of a job if it weren't for alcohol abuse.

Another busy week for the Response Group.

These are the men and women in uniform who work shifts 24/7 to respond to emergency calls. They are a multi-talented bunch from a wide variety of backgrounds who bring a world of experience and down to earth practicality essential for dealing with the type of incidents we attend.

There is no standard day for a frontline officer: Dealing with domestic violence one minute, consoling a bereaved family the next.

It's a good place to see the very best and worst that people can be: Trauma and humour, aggression and compassion all crammed into a 10-hour shift.

One common theme running through many of the incidents we attend is alcohol. From car crashes and domestic assaults to thefts and fights; you name it, alcohol seems the ubiquitous factor. Some days I think I'd be out of a job if it wasn't for alcohol and that's from someone who likes a beer!

We've made good progress in the past 20 years - most people arrange designated sober drivers when heading out on the town, but we still need to plan to take care of each other when we've had a few.

Speaking of looking after each other, burglary is a crime that particularly concerns many people I talk to. Did you know that many of our best catches typically start with a neighbour taking the time to report suspicious behaviour in their street?

Policing really is a 'whole of the community' responsibility. Police would be pretty ineffective without the eyes and ears of civil-minded people. Don't ever be shy about calling us - we would rather prevent a crime occurring than have to attend to a distraught victim afterwards.

We can't do it without you, nor would we want to.

Senior Sergeant Karl Konlechner is in charge of the response group for Rotorua and Murupara.