New senior sergeant for Tararua

Jymahl Glassey, the new senior sergeant for the Tararua Police.

In the job for three weeks, the Tararua Police sub-group's new senior sergeant is looking forward to the role and working with the community.

But Jymahl Glassey isn't unknown here, he was a sergeant based in Pahiatua from 2011 to 2013, before transferring to Masterton as a senior sergeant for 18 months. He's been working in Palmerston North for the past two years.

"Having worked here before, I know this community has a lot going for it," Mr Glassey said.

"In communities like Tararua there are a lot of other organisations engaging with the police and these supportive opportunities make a difference."

Although he acknowledges there have been concerns about policing numbers in the district, Mr Glassey said he's confident and comfortable going forward there is the right allocation of staff.

"There's been a realignment of roles throughout the police and for Tararua this has meant a small gain in staff which is a positive thing," he said.

"I'm keen for the police to be a valued part of the Tararua community, but realise only we can influence that by how we provide service to the community".

Walking into the job and facing two aggravated burglaries in Dannevirke in less than 48 hours, Mr Glassey said the good thing about policing in a small community means officers have plenty of local knowledge.

"A supportive public who come through with information shows a lot of engagement in our community and that's value to us. These two factors had helped lead police to an early arrest in one of the two cases," he said.

On Wednesday police arrested a 17-year-old boy for the armed robbery of Dannevirke's Caltex Westlow service station.

Two teenaged males entered the service station at 11.15 on March 23 armed with a pistol, demanding cash and cigarettes. Police are still looking for an 18-year-old in conjunction with this aggravated robbery.

Travel and enjoying the outdoors is the way our new senior sergeant takes his breaks from the demands of policing.