For as long as I have been a police officer the most consistent and enduring response given by new police officers when they are asked why they decided to join the police is "I want to make a difference for others".
It is therefore not surprising that when police officers, in particular those in Rotorua, are asked "What is the best thing about working for the police?" they respond by talking about the quality of the people they work with.
Last week I spoke to a group of Rotorua people about Policing - past, present and future.
One of the elements of the presentation was the history and origins of police services in Western democracies. In the context of world history, a civilian police service is a relatively new idea.
In 1829 a British cabinet Minister, Sir Robert Peel, developed what has now become known as Peel's Principles. They were not only visionary, but have also proved to be timeless.