Women set to join top brass

WELLINGTON: Two senior female police officers have been picked for promotion into the upper echelon of the police force.

Only one woman had previously attained the rank of assistant commissioner.

Now Tusha Penny and Lauano Sue Schwalger are set to join Sandra Venables in the executive team, a police spokesman said yesterday.

Supt Schwalger and Supt Penny are in charge of the Central and Waitemata police districts, respectively.

Supt Schwalger, who this year received the Samoan chiefly title of Lauano, rose to national prominence as the detective in charge of the highprofile Scott Guy murder investigation.

Supt Penny, who is of Ngati Porou descent, is best known for blowing the whistle on a backlog of child abuse cases then leading widespread changes to how abuse and sexual violence cases are investigated across the country.

If confirmed, Supts Schwalger and Penny will start their new assistant commissioner roles in four weeks’ time.

Supt Schwalger will be responsible for managing the 12 district commanders, replacing John Tims who was promoted to deputy commissioner.

Supt Penny will take charge of operations, replacing Mike Rusbatch who is now responsible for planning of Apec and the America’s Cup.

No female police officer has risen higher in the ranks, although Audrey Sonerson joined the police as deputy commissioner in late 2016 after a successful career in the public service.