Howard Clement 35 years on the beat

From deterring wool thieves in rural New Zealand to collecting human remains from a fatal fire, Sergeant Howard Clement has done the lot during 35 years on the beat. His contribution has been recognised with the presentation of a 35 year clasp. The Whangarei police officer talks to reporter Kristin Edge about his police career.

POLICE Sergeant Howard Clement gives the impression he's not afraid to speak his mind, but it's equally easy to see he has a genuine passion for helping others.

And after 35 years on the beat, as one of Northland's longest-serving officers, he's helped his fair share of New Zealanders and police colleagues up and down the country.

Sometimes it's been a laugh, sometimes dangerous and sometimes sobering. But he wouldn't swap the job for any other.

And in anyone's language 35 years in the job is a long time.

"It doesn't seem to have been that long. It's probably because I'm still learning and still enjoying helping people and helping the community and making a difference.

"I don't view myself as a policeman but as a person whose job is a police officer," the 54-year-old grandfather of six reckons.

"I've worked about seven years in police cells and never been hit. It's just the way you treat people and the way you talk to them. If you treat people well they treat you all right back.

"Police are ultimately still there to help the community and make things better."

Clement was born in Marton, in the Manawatu, and has three sisters and two brothers.

The family then moved to Whitikahu, North east of Hamilton, where Clement attended Hamilton Boys High School.

He's coy about disclosing why he left school at 16 - it had something to do with a less-than-impressed physics teacher. He worked as a builder's labourer for nine months then was a clerk for a building company before deciding there was more to life then a desk job.

"I was 19, looking at the world and deciding what to do. I tried for the police and was accepted within two weeks. If the door had opened another way I might have done something else."

There were 81 recruits on the wing with an average age 21. Of that wing only seven are still working as police officers.

In those days the police college was based at Trentham, where the recruits were housed in a former World War II barracks. "There were two to a room, one study desk and wire-wove mattresses on the beds."

The recruits completed a 14-week course before they were thrust onto the front line armed with just a small wooden baton and handcuffs.

"We didn't have the protection they have these days. No vests, no tasers, no OC spray. We got into some scary situations."

His first posting was to the big smoke of Newmarket in Auckland. It was in the days when patrol cars were HQ Holdens - apparently much better at off-roading than the modern counterparts.

Clement remembers the old patrol cars with some affection, as "three-geared cars that sometimes got jammed - even in police pursuits."

His most memorable ride was in Morrinsville when a teenager was "playing up". As Clement went down the driveway a series of shots were aimed at the car.

The sergeant insisted they continue, saying: "Don't worry, he's a s*** shot, carry on."

"You did as you were told in those days. So I slipped down in the seat below the level of the window and kept going."

Clement says he has come a long way since his first arrest. It was on a twilight shift and he was sent to a burglary in Mt Albert. A police dog and handler had arrived first and caught a woman inside the house. The dog handler told Clement: "Arrest her".

He admits he had no idea what to do but learned quickly.

"When I started it was as an individual. Now you're part of a team. Back in the day you did everything including the fingerprinting. "Now there is a lot more interaction between police and the community and each sees the value of working together to get an outcome."

ONE OF the memorable moments early in his career was being called to a brawl in Onehunga Mall. He arrived in the fourth car and was directed by the Inspector to stand by a man lying on the ground.

One look at the man and Clement knew something wasn't right.

"But sir," a timid Clement said, "I don't think he's breathing."

He wasn't - and that was his first experience dealing with death on the job.

There are many more he can talk about but one that upset him the most was at the Bastion Point occupation in Auckland.

The leader of the occupation was Joe Hawk and it was his 9-year-old niece, Joanne Hawk, who died.

Kerosene stoves were being used to heat the temporary shacks and one of them ignited a mattress where the girl was sleeping.

"I was given the task by the inspector to uplift the body from the ashes." That entailed scratching around with a stick.

"It affected me because my sister was 9 and I kept thinking of her. There are times when you are affected by the incidents that occur."

But as well as the heart-wrenching times there are the rewarding times.

After two years cutting his teeth in Auckland he transferred to Hamilton where he worked in numerous roles over eight years.

He also relieved at rural stations including Huntly, Te Kauwhata, Te Aroha, Raglan, Paeroa, Thames, Whitianga, Coromandel, Otorohanga and Te Kuiti, before settling at Piopio.

For Clement the six-year stint in rural settlement of Piopio, in the King Country, with a population of 500, proved to one of the most rewarding jobs.

He was a catalyst for many programmes, including Victim Support, Blue Light Venture camps and a scheme for the long-term unemployed.

"It was these sort of things that you saw a direct result of your input."

During his stint there theft of wool bales became a problem so he called a meeting with the concerned farmers.

"Some of the farmers would sit there with loaded shotguns.

"We managed to organise roving patrols around the district and the thefts died away."

Piopio is a community of which Clement speaks fondly but says: "There comes a time when you can stay in a job or take on a new challenge. It was a real toss-up but I decided I wanted a challenge and decided to go as a sergeant to Whangarei."

That was in 1993.

Talk to most staff at Whangarei police station and they will have worked with Clement, or at least know who he is, after stints on the front line, Prosecutions, traffic and now as the alcohol harm reduction officer.

When he started in the police he found bars to be totally disorderly with those in charge reluctant to accept responsibility. And there was no attempt to control the intoxication of patrons.

"Now, with the careful selection of persons worthy to be managers, that helps a lot with ensuring the effect of alcohol is minimised."

He says there has been better co-operation between organisations looking to reduce the effects of alcohol in relation to crime and crashes.

Other rewards have come when seeing the police staff grow, improve and develop.

"I get satisfaction out of helping people I have worked with on section. It's not just about how you do the job but how you grow as a person.

At present he is involved in the Dressing the Part scheme in which police, with the help of ACC and Youth Transition Services, teach people aged 17 and 18 about entering licensed premises, how to drink safely and about planning nights out.

This year he started Blue Light Ventures - taking young men on camps to teach them leadership skills, taking them out of their comfort zones and giving them a chance to do activities they may not normally be exposed to. He hopes it will become an annual event.

Off the beat he is a doting grandfather.

Only last weekend he had his three grandsons with him cutting firewood and destroying wasp nests.

A six-month-old granddaughter "who is not spoiled at all" is a very welcome addition to the family.

Another interest is motorbikes and he has a 1300 Honda onroad bike plus a DR650 Suzuki offroad bike.

Much of his long service leave will be spent touring the South Island.

BEING recognised for his work was a proud moment. "My family were there and my colleagues from Whangarei. I was proud of being recognised for it and proud to accept it on behalf of the colleagues I've worked with, and the support of my family."

What is amazing is that Clement has only had two pairs of boots on the beat. Okay, so he wore jandals and gumboots a bit in Piopio, but he has only had two pairs of boots.

The first set lasted 26 years and were re-soled seven times. As he thumps the latest pair on the desk for closer inspection he speaks his mind.

"I hope the commissioner is going to issue boots as bloody good as this."

Yep, Howard Clement not scared to speak his mind and is a pretty good guy when it comes to policing in the community.

How many more years will he plod the beat?

That's not clear. He still loves the job, so expect to see him kitted out in blue for a while longer.