Ryan Fleming – On the Beat
As Ryan Fleming prepares to move on from his role as community constable in Te Awamutu, I want to express my gratitude for his service to our community.
Ryan Fleming helped organise the community initiative. Photo: Benjamin Wilson
Over the years of working alongside Ryan, he consistently shown that he is police officer who sees his role not merely as enforcement, but as care for the whole person. Like the Good Samaritan who stopped to help the vulnerable traveller, Ryan demonstrated genuine concern for those in our community who were struggling, marginalised, or in need of support.
Rev Julie Guest
What struck me most was Ryan’s ability to see people as Christ sees them — not defined by their worst moments, but as individuals with inherent dignity and potential. He actively sought ways to help each person, looking for the best in them even when circumstances were difficult.
At the same time, Ryan didn’t waver in his commitment to justice and community safety. When property was being damaged or laws broken, he was proactive and decisive, ensuring that vulnerable members of our community felt protected and heard. This balance — of mercy and justice, compassion and courage — is no easy feat.
I know from discussion with friends who invest in caring for the vulnerable in their communities that not all community constables are equal. They tell me of police who operate with an attitude focused on “clearing their patch” — moving difficult people off our streets and onto someone else’s patch. It seems to be policing aimed at achieving good statistics on paper rather than any improvement in people’s lives. This approach fails to consider what displacing vulnerable people does to them personally, or the burden it simply transfers to other communities.
By contrast, Ryan didn’t seek to simply moving problems around like pieces on a board, but invested in solutions. He understood that lasting community safety comes not from displacement, but from addressing root causes, building relationships, and helping people find pathways forward. His approach was more challenging and time-intensive, but it was genuinely redemptive. His work with Operation Christmas Hampers is an example of seeing a need and responding. Ryan also worked closely with the CommSafe team, helping them to work effectively as observers and crime deterrents in communities.
Ryan Fleming at Fieldays 2023
Ryan embodied what it means to be a peacemaker in the truest sense—not merely keeping peace through authority, but building peace through relationship, understanding, and genuine care.
As church leaders and community members, we have been blessed to work alongside someone who understood that real community safety comes not just from law enforcement, but from caring for the vulnerable, dignifying every person, and building trust through consistent, compassionate presence.
Thank you, Ryan, for your faithful service to Te Awamutu. You have been a blessing to our community, and you will be missed. We pray God’s richest blessings on you as you move forward into your next chapter.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
The Commsafe team. From left, Paul Merson, Donna Gregory, Mandy Merson, Wybe de Jong, John Graham, Andrew Guest and Julie Guest. Photo: Jeremy Smith.
