Waikato duo among fellows
Police recipients told you are what makes us amazing
Two Waikato-based members of the police have been recognised among the country’s most dedicated police staff. Sergeant Kenny Ross (OC Paeroa Police Station) and Provisional Inspector
Andrea Johnston (principal adviser, Assurance Group, PNHQ, based in Thames) are two of 12 members of the New Zealand Police who received a Woolf Fisher Police Fellowship.
The annual awards programme was established in 2017 to promote better and more efficient policing and recognises up to 15 constabulary and non-constabulary employees with funding for international travel and study.
Candidates are nominated in secret by their peers. The programme restarted last year after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.
Speaking to the fellowship recipients at a special ceremony at National Police Headquarters in Wellington last month, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the awards celebrated great people who had done outstanding work.
“[The awards] reflect your service, your dedication and the excellence you have brought to your work with New Zealand Police and for our communities.”
Woolf Fisher Trust deputy chairman Mark Robinson said when trustees were thinking about expanding Woolf Fisher Fellowships beyond their original scope in education, they were unanimous in choosing police.
“We could not think of a more deserving group of individuals, who give up so much for so many every day to make New Zealand a better place.”
Assistant Police Commissioner Jill Rogers is also chairwoman of the police’s awards advisory committee and said looking at the nominations for fellowships was among her favourite tasks.
“Reading about people who are so often unseen, working in the background on things that make such a difference to our organisation . . .
“Through tough times, through fun times, you are the backbone of this organisation.
“You are what makes us amazing.”