A difficult job done well

The first thing that happens when someone who works for the police achieves a service milestone is that someone with rank pulls out their personal file. That's what Northland District Commander Superintendent Russell Le Prou did when Irene Morland's long stint as a civilian employee at the Kaitaia police station was recognised last week with the presentation of a 28-year long service and good conduct badge.

Mrs Morland, being non-sworn, was not entitled to a medal, he said, but it was important that her long, loyal service to the police and her community be acknowledged.

Her personal file hadn't yielded a great deal, although he noted that her five-month appraisal had described her as having a quiet manner.

"Either you were putting on a very good act or whoever wrote this was a liar," Superintendent Le Prou said.

No one, whatever their role, could work for the police without solid family support, however, and Mrs Morland had received that support from her husband Rex (who had long filled a lesser role as a jailer; their son Grant recently took the family tradition further when he graduated from Police College).

"It's not an easy job, and it's not a job that everyone can do, but you have done it well for a very long time," he added.

Area Commander Inspector Wendy Robilliard described Mrs Morland as friendly, approachable and knowledgeable, a real asset to the station who ran a "pretty tight ship" from the watchhouse, from where she commanded the public counter.

She did have one small shortcoming though, Inspector Robilliard revealing that her relationship with computer technology was occasionally strained.

"She saves stuff OK. She just doesn't always know where to find it again," she said.

For her part, Mrs Morland thanked her husband for his unwavering support (although these days it was O/C Senior Sergeant Geoff Ryan who got "what for" as required rather than her husband) and she had enjoyed working in a "good station" where everyone got on well together.

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Superintendent Le Prou also presented certificates of appreciation to Senior Sergeant Geoff Ryan and Constable Trevor Proctor, recognising the noteworthy, positive contribution they had made in 2013/14 to road safety in the Northland region.