Police long service marked by medals

CHB senior constable Julie-Ann Treseder, non-sworn staff member Karen Olsen and senior constable Mike Dalby with Hawke's Bay police area response manager, Inspector Andy Sloan, at last week's presentation at CHB Community Policing centre in Waipukurau.

Three staff at the CHB Community Police Station in Waipukurau have been recognised for giving a combined 70 years of service.

CHB police senior constables Julie-Ann Treseder and Mike Dalby and non-sworn staff member Karen Olsen were presented with long service and good conduct medals at the station last Wednesday.

The informal presentation ceremony was attended by colleagues and top police brass including Inspector Tania Kura, recently appointed provisional Eastern District Commander, and Hawke's Bay area response manager, Inspector Andy Sloan.

Police are awarded the long service medal after 14 years and a bar for every subsequent seven years of service. Snr Constable Julie-Ann Treseder was presented with a two-star bar for her 28 years of service, Snr Constable Mike Dalby received his 21-year bar, while Karen Olsen was presented with a non-sworn badge for 21 years of service.

CHB sergeant in charge Ross Gilbert thanked the senior staff for providing stability at the station, which was "awesome" for the CHB community.

"It also says a lot about the community as well that you want to stay here," he said. He described Julie-Ann Treseder as "something of an institution in CHB" who was perhaps more widely known by her nickname, 'Spike'. She joined the police in May, 1989 and was posted to Hastings and after eight months of leave without pay, was posted to Waipukurau in 1994, he said.

Mike Dalby joined the force in January, 1994. After serving in Manawatu, he arrived in CHB in 2001 when he was posted to Waipawa as officer in charge of the two-person station, before his position moved to Waipukurau in 2016.

Karen Olsen arrived at Waipukurau station as watch house officer in June, 1995 and apart from six months maternity leave, had been based in Waipukurau since day one of her service. Inspector Kura joked they were "oldies, but goodies" at the station.

"I mean 70 years' service between the three of you is pretty significant. Your community is really lucky to have you and the fact you have been here so long, it's really good for the community to know that you are committed to the area," she said.

Ms Kura also thanked the other officers for their show of support by attending the ceremony, and the family members of the trio, including Mrs Olsen's husband Ken and son George, who were on hand for the presentation.

"Families are a really big part of policing, so make sure you look after those loved ones at home," she said.