A life more exciting

Seventy-four new police officers will graduate tomorrow in Wing 251 and embark on their new careers with NZ Police. Their Wing patron is Tainui kaumatua Koroneihana Cooper QSM. (see below for more information)

The wing ranges in age from 19-40, with many having left interesting jobs and lifestyles to join NZ Police. The wing includes a full-time dad and a grandfather of two.

Graduating first in the wing and still on the lookout for more adventure and excitement is Southlander, Constable Dougall Struthers. Equiped with a BPhEd, Dougall became an adventure guide, taking tourists abseiling 100m underground at Waitomo before heading overseas to Turkey. In Turkey, he worked as a canyoning and rafting guide before setting up a new adventure tourism base with his wife, and training local guides.

Returning to New Zealand Dougall worked as a travel agent and became involved with Variety - the children's charity on their 'Variety Bash', an annual celebrity road trip visiting many communities, schools and marae around NZ to entertain children, canvass donations and distribute funds. He has been involved with Variety for nine years and now drives the bus on tour. Constable Struthers is posted to Christchurch.

Also posted to Christchurch is Constable Jason Turnbull who is fulfilling a 17-year ambition to join NZ Police. An keen and talented amateur boxer from age nine, Jason represented NZ in Sydney in 1995 and is looking forward to getting back into training after his 19 weeks away at the Police College. Describing himself as a family man, Jason says he enjoyed the training, which he says was "a long, hard road but well worth it". He is looking forward to being able to make a difference in people's lives, helping them to feel safe and secure in their communities.

The graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College, Porirua, on Thursday 24 July 2008 at 2:00pm and will be attended by Commissioner Howard Broad.