Police are upping their drive to attract officers from Auckland's diverse ethnicities and backgrounds.
Constable Aji Basra, police officer in Counties Manukau, is the very type of officer they're seeking and his "better work story" has been highlighted by an art installation at Kingsland Train Station.
Constable Basra was called out after a male passed out on train tracks at a rail underpass in Auckland. A train was scheduled to arrive at any minute and the man's life was at risk.
The first police officer on the scene, Constable Basra ran from the patrol car, pulling the seemingly intoxicated man to safety from the railway tracks, just moments before the train arrived.
"Nothing beats the feeling of doing a job where you're out there to protect people," Constable Basra says. "It was a better work story, but I hope it's never repeated. People and train tracks just shouldn't mix.
"It's our job to not only respond to incidents, but to help prevent them from happening in the first place. I became a cop to help people, but too often I have to save them from bad choices - but I know this guy learnt his lesson," he says.
The art installation to reflect the incident was placed with the full support of KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Veolia Transport . KiwiRail Chief Executive Jim Quinn says the artwork helps to highlight the issue of pedestrian safety around railway tracks.
"When people make bad choices around railway lines it can lead to tragic results," Mr Quinn says. " Since 2000, 147 pedestrians have died on railway tracks in New Zealand. Every single death or injury on the railway network is avoidable."
The police recruitment drive using untold extraordinary stories is to help attract young leaders with communication skills, empathy and problem solving abilities, all key to frontline duties. Police say they are looking to recruit between 160 and 240 frontline staff from July 2012 to June 2013. They are looking to specifically attract 18-25 year old females, Asians, Africans, Pasifika and Maori.
Remembrance Day
Meanwhile police around the country are marking police remembrance day.
The mother of murdered police officer Don Wilkinson said today's commemorations are crucial in reminding New Zealanders the dangers officers face with every day.
Undercover Sergeant Don Wilkinson, 46, died instantly from a single gunshot wound to the chest during a covert drug operation in Mangere, south Auckland on September 11, 2008.
His killer John Ward Skinner is currently serving a 15-year stint behind bars.
Today, Mr Wilkinson's mother Beverley Lawrie, 71, travelled from her Oamaru home to attend a Police Remembrance Day commemoration in Christchurch.
Hundreds of officers and civilian staff, led by a single piper, marched from Christchurch Central Police Station, across Durham St, and into the Park of Remembrance for the 20-minute service.
After the national anthem, a minute's silence, and all the names of the 29 officers killed in the line of duty since Constable Neil McLeod was slain in 1890 were read out, District Commander Gary Knowles paid tribute to officers who "paid the ultimate price".
"We will never forget them, we will always remember them with great pride and honour," he said.
Superintendent Knowles also acknowledged colleagues who died in the February 22, 2011 earthquake, as well as police staff who passed away over the last 12 months.
After the service, Mrs Lawrie said the memories of her son's murder "all came back".
"It's days like today you wish you don't have just one child," she said.
"It's the first time since Don died that I haven't been in Wellington for the main service.
"September is not a good month - he was murdered in September, and Remembrance Day is a couple of weeks later."
Remembrance Day falls on September 29 - feast day of the Archangel Michael - patron saint of police, but this year is being commemorated today.
Mrs Lawrie said the service, like others across the country today, was important in highlighting the job police did in keeping the peace.
"The country needs a day like today to remind them that they (officers) do put their lives on the line every day, 24 hours a day, every week of the year.
"These guys do an amazing job."
Keep up with Auckland issues on our handy Auckland Twitterfeed page.
What do you think? Would you ever want to be a cop? Comment below.