Whangarei Community Patrol

14/08/2020

18/07/2020

Cultural and ethnic diversity adds strength and agility to our patrol crews. Do you care enough to make a difference?

"I came to NZ in 2018 for my higher studies in Business Management. Previously I was living in Dubai and Saudi for almost 15 years, so it was a big change for me to come NZ.

As you know, working in Saudi, it’s highly busy. I was holding a top retail management position for a retail giant in Gulf. And I did not have much time to spend with my family. NZ is the best place to settle. Work life balance, sustainability, greenery and smile faces all over. We don’t find that in most of other countries, including my own country Sri Lanka.

It took around 6 months for me to get settled down. That was the time I got connected to Volunteer Canterbury workshop conduct for new immigrants. It was a connecting path for me.

I want to make sure my time is used in a productive way for me as well as for the community. So, while I am doing studies, I got involved with community patrol under CPNZ for last two years.

It’s not easy, there are 10 exams that you must complete. After few patrols, I felt this is so important. There are times that the police could not respond to every incident they get. That is the time we get involved and help them to keep the community in safe hands.

Sometimes we must deal with bad behaviour; work daylight, night, in winter or rain. We do all our best to keep our community safe.

Also, I hope my lovely daughter and wife could join me soon, but this pandemic situation delayed. My daughter was without me for two years. It was very hard. She's five years old. And the saddest part is when I can’t talk to her the days I go for patrol and due to time difference.

We should not be selfish. We gain best in NZ, so we must give som**hing back to the community as well, a simple way to say, “Thank You”. That is very important. Because every person has got their own talent. The lovely Kiwi culture and community we mingle will be a great experience."

- Sanjeewa

Volunteering Canterbury helps awesome humans like Sanjeewa connect with their community.

08/07/2020

Our thoughts are with you. Respect.

Constable Matthew Hunt will be farewelled with a special funeral service to be held tomorrow, 11am at Eden Park, Auckland.

The funeral service for Constable Hunt, who was killed in the line of duty two weeks ago, will be held as a closed service for family, friends, and Police staff.

Constable Hunt’s family has been overwhelmed by the love and support they have received from across New Zealand and they are incredibly grateful. They have agreed to share his farewell with our communities and as such it will be live streamed.

We are grateful to Matthew’s family, and in particular his mum, for allowing Matthew’s Police family to be an integral part of his final farewell. There is no greater honour we can bestow on a colleague who has made the ultimate sacrifice and we want to ensure we are able to support Matthew’s family in providing for a fitting tribute for him.

Members of the public are not able to attend but you will be able to join the service via livestream on this page or www.police.govt.nz.

The stream will begin around 10.50am.

06/07/2020

It is often tempting for us to assume, from what we are observing, that we are reporting a situation involving alcohol or other drug abuse.

YOUR CALLS DO MATTER, CALL 📞 POLICE #111 EMERGENCY - #105 NON- EMERGENCY

On Monday 29th June Cambridge Police responded to a driving complaint called in by two members of the public of a vehicle all over the road failing to maintain its lane. The Officer stopped the vehicle at Riverlea and immediately noticed that the driver was having a medical emergency.

The Constable called for an ambulance which transported the driver to Waikato Hospital. She was rushed straight to theatre for emergency surgery and spent the next two days in Intensive Care. The Officer went to visit her a couple of days later, when speaking to the Doctors, was advised that there had been an eight minute window with which to get the driver into theatre otherwise she would not be with us today, that’s how gravely ill she was.

The driver recalls looking in her rearview mirror and seeing the patrol lights coming down the hill behind her and knowing that they were for her and thinking to herself “they are coming to save me, I’m going to be ok”. If it wasn’t for those two members of the public phoning in the driving complaint there is a good chance that the driver would not be with us today.

Both informants have been phoned by the officer to thank them.

25/06/2020

Police + Public = Teamwork

GOOD NEWS - This morning we have arrested a 19-year-old man who was wanted to arrest following a fi****ms incident in Moerewa last Saturday.

The man was located at an address in Kawakawa early this morning and was arrested with the assistance of the Armed Offenders Squad.

Inspector Riki Whiu, Far North Area Commander, says the arrest was the direct result of information received from the public.

“We want to extend our thanks to our Moerewa and Kawakawa communities for assisting Police, providing us with information and tolerating our increased armed presence.

“I also want to acknowledge the efforts of our staff who have worked tirelessly over the past week to hold this offender to account.

“We hope this morning’s arrest will provide some reassurance to these communities who I know do not stand for acts of violence.”

The man will be appearing in the Kaikohe District Court today where he will face a number of charges relating to multiple alleged incidents over the past month.

The charges include:
- Burglary
- Wounding with intent to cause Grievous Bodily Harm
- Threatening to Kill
- Commission of a crime with a Firearm
- Assault with a weapon
- Injuring with Intent
- Unlawful Possession of Fi****ms
- Escaping Police Custody
- Failing to Stop for Police

As the matter is before the courts, Police are not in a position to make further comment.

07/06/2020

In an effort to reduce burglaries and thefts associated with residential and commercial developments, we are currently assisting police to engage with tradies everywhere they shop for their tools and supplies. Tradies are offered detailed crime prevention advice to enable them to avoid becoming a target for Building Site Crime.

27/05/2020

Great result

5 ARRESTED IN M**H OPERATION

Northland Police have arrested five people as part of an ongoing operation targeting the illegal manufacture of m**hamphetamine in the region.

A number of search warrants were carried out by the Northland Organised Crime Unit across the Whangarei area yesterday morning.

With the assistance of the Armed Offenders Squad, two rural properties in Wheki Valley were searched at first light.

Four fi****ms were recovered from these properties including a semi-automatic 7.62 calibre prohibited weapon.

A third property in Portland was also searched by Police.

A number of local gang members and associates face charges as a result of these search warrants.

A 29 year old male Rebels gang member is facing multiple charges of Manufacturing m**hamphetamine.

A 28 year old female associate also faces numerous manufacturing and dealing charges.

Both are jointly charged with the unlawful possession of fi****ms including the prohibited semi-automatic.

A 39 year old male Head Hunters gang member and a 34 year old female face multiple charges relating to conspiring to manufacture m**hamphetamine and dealing in m**hamphetamine.

All four were due to appear today in the Whangarei District Court.

A further male was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and will be appearing in court at a later date.

Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston says these arrests demonstrate Northland Police’s ongoing commitment to disrupting the supply chain of m**h.

“These illegal drugs cause devastating harm in our local communities and the public can be assured that we will continue to arrest those responsible and hold these offenders to account.”

Anyone with information about illegal drug activity is asked to contact Police or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

25/05/2020

Nice work

Good news!

Thanks to the efforts of an off-duty officer, we were able to stop a man - who was allegedly nearly five times over the alcohol limit - from getting behind the wheel.

The officer had just finished their shift at Whangarei Police Station on Friday night when they noticed a heavily intoxicated person attempting to get into his vehicle and drive.

The off duty member called the job in, and managed to keep the driver at the scene until another officer arrived.

The driver would have posed serious risk to the safety of other road users if they got behind the wheel.

A 20-year-old is due to appear in court next month for excess breath alcohol.

This is yet another example of Police officers working around the clock – on or off duty – to keep our communities safe.

Police also want to thank members of the public who frequently call us to report driver behaviour and suspected drink driving.

If you see someone who may be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol contact *555 or 111 as soon as it is safe to do.

20/05/2020

https://tracing.covid19.govt.nz?r=link

Sign up to protect yourself, your whānau, and your community

01/05/2020

We love NZ Police for sharing this!

01/05/2020

Nice going Josh, epic teamwork!

Northland’s very own Constable Josh Van Der Kwaak and police patrol dog Caesar are the winners of the Erridge Cup, awarded to the New Zealand Police Dog Section’s best rookie handler and dog in their first operational year of duty. 🏆👏

Sergeant Bruce McLeod nominated the pair for the award which is judged nationally at the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre.

“In the 12 months since graduating the team have attended 494 deployments together.

"They have had 18 crime catches where, thanks purely to the skills of the handler and dog acting alone, they have tracked and caught offenders who without them would not have been found, and have apprehended a further 22 offenders.

“These excellent results have been achieved while Josh and Caesar have been based in the Mid-Far North, a largely rural area,” Sergeant McLeod says.

Read the full story here: https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/northland-police-dog-team-defies-life-threatening-career-start-win-erridge-cup