Longestserving area commander signs off from police
INSPECTOR Dave Gaskin has called time on his 45year career, leaving with the honour of being the police’s longestserving area commander.
Mr Gaskin, of Timaru, left his job as Aoraki Area Commander late last month after reaching retirement age, describing his career with the police as an absolute privilege.
As a graduating member of section 2, Wing 69 in 1977, he has seen a lot and done a lot, and he accepts the world has changed.
‘‘I know I’m a bit of a dinosaur about some things — that’s why it’s a good time for me to bugger off. It’s going to leave an enormous hole; I’m not going to minimise that. Policing for the last 45 years really has been my life.’’
After finishing school, he tried his hand at university study and truck driving, but neither stuck.
He was working in Christchurch when he saw an ad for a trainee court registrar. He got an interview and on his way home he walked past the Christchurch Police Station.
He thought, ‘‘now that’s a job I’ve always wanted to do’’.
Three months later, he was at Trentham Police College embarking on the career that would drive him for decades.
After graduation, Mr Gaskin was set to go to Wellington until the head of recruit training told him there was a change of plan: he was going to Timaru.
That was where his future wife had just moved so he was keen.
Linda Gaskin was his ‘‘gold nugget’’, he said.
She trained as a police officer two years after him, then moved to Corrections. They have been partners in life and in crime prevention all their adult lives.
After three years in Timaru, the couple got married and moved to Dunedin.
‘‘When I got to Dunedin, I realised how far ahead I was of my wingmates,’’ Mr Gaskin said.
‘‘One of the last jobs I had in Timaru was O/C body [officer in charge of body] of a homicide. As a twoandahalfyear constable, I was doing the whole thing. That’s the beauty of a smaller station; fewer staff means more opportunities.’’
He then had spells in Dunedin and Christchurch.
He returned to Timaru in 1995 as a senior sergeant before being appointed to the area commander role in 1997.
‘‘Area commanders are the interface between the people doing the work and management. You’re not out there leading the charge but you’re making decisions that affect the staff.’’
With his love of the outdoors and his early start in mountain rescues, Mr Gaskin has always had a passion for search and rescue.
‘‘I‘ve been to some terrible places with search and rescue. I’ve had some great times and some sad times — but I love working with the volunteers and community groups.’’
In the early 1990s, Timaru had a reputation as a gang town. Operation Shovel was the police response and Mr Gaskin said his involvement in it was one of his proudest achievements.
‘‘We did everything we could to disrupt the gangs. Road policing came in in 1992, so we could write out tickets. We hit them financially, we seized their motorbikes and we got buyin from the courts and probation.
‘‘Everyone did what they could and we destroyed them. It was easy because everyone who was involved lived in the area. They knew how the gangs affected the community. They saw the benefit and it worked.’’
Passion for the job and for people was what kept him in the job for 45 years.
‘‘I love coming to work. I don’t think I’ve had a single day when I’ve thought ‘I don’t want to do this any more’.
‘‘I have been to so many crashes. I have seen so much tragedy. I think those serious incidents take a little bit of your soul and I don’t have a lot more to give, if I’m honest. So, as much as I would love to keep going forever, I’m ready. I know that.’’
There had never been another area commander in Aoraki and it was time for someone else to take over, he said.
‘‘My measure of success is a safer community. If Aoraki is safer than when I first came here, then I’ll go happily — and I truly believe it is a safer place.’’