With recruitment in full swing, the team in Tāmaki Makaurau have been thinking outside the square to get people out of the pipeline and on to the front line.
Inspector Mark Chivers, acting District Prevention Manager for Counties Manukau, and his team felt the best way to inspire people who had shown an interest in joining Police was an action-packed scenario-based event where they could meet staff and find out everything they needed to know.
After a lot of planning and organisation, the event on Sunday (18 May) at the Dew Drop Event Centre in Manukau was attended by more than 350 potential recruits who were eager to find out from the horse’s mouth what frontline policing is really like.
“Our different workgroups were there and set up some outstanding interactive activities and stands,” says Mark.
Time for a team photo before the event.
Workgroups included Search and Rescue, PST, Diversity Liaison, Air Support, Dog Section, Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Services, AOS, Road Policing, Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke, Forensics, CIB, Authorised Officers, Media and Communications and, of course, Recruitment. Associate Police Minister Casey Costello was there to spend time with Police staff and potential recruits.
The event was MCd by Sergeant Charles Laumatia, who led the audience briefly through his journey in Police before introducing an action-packed multi-media mock incident.
It featured a video filmed from Eagle and edited to lead the audience through an event involving an armed kidnapping that culminated in the vehicle of interest driving into the auditorium (watch the video follow-up below to see how it worked out).
“The plan was to give the audience a snippet of what frontline policing is like,” says Mark.
There was an opportunity for the audience to ask questions during an open mic question-and-answer session hosted by Charles, recruitment officer Kenna Rowe and acting National Recruitment Manager Inspector Lyle Norris. The questions were well thought-out and showed that those gathered were engaged and keen on a future career in Police.
With the event a success, Mark is keen to thank his team including Constables Kenna Rowe, Rebecca Johnson and Stan Sanele along with supervisor Senior Sergeant Jono Chappell.
“Our team have gone above and beyond to organise this event,” he says. “I would also like to thank everyone who took time away from their weekend to be there on the day - it really shows how dedicated we are to recruitment across Tāmaki Makaurau."