Ryan Fleming – On the Beat
Since my return from Hamilton the most commonly asked question I get is “I bet you’re glad to back”.
The answer to that is a resounding yes. It’s good to be home. Hamilton policing taught me a lot: quick thinking, thick skin, and how to dodge a Lime scooter travelling at the speed of sound.
Senior Constable Ryan Fleming
Policing in the city is as hectic as I remember city policing to be. When I first joined the police, I was lucky enough to learn my trade in South Auckland. I spent four years on the frontline there and thoroughly enjoyed it. I made a lot of good friends for life and was part of a well drilled team. Hamilton was exactly the same.
In Te Awamutu, things move at a different pace. I would not ever say its quieter (Police are not allowed under any circumstances to use the Q word). Here, you get an opportunity to follow through with the whole job from start to finish. From investigation to arrest all the way to court. Police in smaller centres get to see the whole of the job and not just a small microcosm of it. This breeds well rounded officers with a myriad of skillsets. You still get the occasional wild callout, of course – we’re not immune to chaos – but at least you usually know the name of the person causing it. Or their mum.
One of the biggest perks of small-town policing is connection. In the city, you can go a whole shift dealing with strangers you’ll never see again. Here, I get to deal with people I’ve known for years, deal with people whose kids play sport with mine. I get to build genuine connections which assist me in solving the world’s problems.
Of course, it’s not all laid-back and low-key. We still do serious work here—protecting the vulnerable, solving crime, and making sure Te Awamutu stays the safe, supportive community it is. But there’s also a certain charm to getting called out to a “disorder” only to find two neighbours arguing over who’s better at lawn mowing. Yes, I have had that call out.
Coming back to Te Awamutu isn’t just a return to smaller beats and quieter nights—it’s a return to purpose. It’s grounding. It reminds me why I joined the job in the first place: to serve people I know, in a place I love. I needed to step away for a while to remind me of that privilege
So if you see me out and about, don’t be shy. Say g’day. Tell me if your cat’s missing or your streetlight’s on the blink. I might even know someone who can help. And if you’re really lucky, I’ll share a few stories from Hamilton – just don’t ask about the Lime scooters.
New cops on town beat
By Jon Rawlinson
Jarom Jaunay. Photo: Stephen A’Court.
Two recent police graduates Awa Morris and Jarom Jaunay, have joined the ranks in Waipā.
Relieving Waikato West area commander Inspector Karl Thornton greeted his two new recruits in Te Awamutu last week.
“We are really happy to welcome these two new officers,” he said. “They have grown up in the area and have family and friends in the community, which is fantastic as they have local knowledge and support.”
Jaunay and Morris will undertake probationary training before helping to shore up Te Awamutu’s blue line.
“Waikato West is a large, dynamic and busy policing area,” Thornton said. “There’s a lot to learn in the first few months on the job and we will do everything we can to ensure constables Jaunay and Morris have the guidance and support they need in the field.”
Jaunay told The News he is living in Hamilton but has been looking forward to working in Te Awamutu as he spent a lot of time in town when he lived in Pirongia as a teenager.
“I was like a lot of young adults, unsure which career path to take at first, but after learning what the job involved, I knew it was what I wanted to do.”
Soon after finishing high school at Hamilton’s Tai Wananga ki Ruakura Jaunay, 21, served his church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) before deciding to protect and serve his wider community.
“I served a mission of service for two years. This involved ministering, management of other missionaries, visiting church members and other services to make life easier and lighten people’s burdens,” he said.
“I applied for the police after friends shared their experiences working for the police and I was also inspired by a family member who polices in Huntly.”
Inspector Thornton is not the only area commander benefiting from new recruits. In total, 76 Wing 384 constables have been deployed nationwide since graduating late last month.
