This week’s work group I would like to spotlight is our detectives.
Ryan Fleming outside Te Awamutu Police Station.
The Te Awamutu Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) is a team of dedicated detectives working to keep our community safe by investigating serious crime in the Waipā district. From serious assaults to drug offending and complex investigations, the CIB handles a wide range of cases requiring in-depth analysis, interviewing, and forensic expertise.
Our detectives work closely with frontline staff, specialist police units, and partner agencies to solve crime, hold offenders accountable, and support victims and their families.
The skill set required for this job involves a meticulous eye for detail. The detectives are always available for frontline staff to run technical questions on cases they are managing and we are very lucky to have approachable staff.
The pathway to be becoming a detective is a lengthy one. There is an exam to pass which puts the constable into an on trial period after which a the constable goes back to Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) to complete the Detective Development Course.
Once this course is completed the constable becomes a Detective Constable. There are several workplace modules that must be completed before going back to RNZPC for the Detective Qualifying Course. At the completion of this course they are given the rank of detective and a flash gold badge (tradition).
In Te Awamutu we also have a Prison Enquiries Officer who conducts all the enquiries that relate to Waikeria Prison. This is a uniformed position and having completed two stints in the role filling in for periods of time I can say it’s an interesting role with good variety.
I just wish all the investigations that are conducted by CIB were as fast as they are on TV.
