Kaeo cop hangs up his baton

Constable Richard Avery helping Four Square owner Hitendra Patel with a shoplifting incident, one of his last tasks in Kaeo.

Kaeo Community Constable Richard Avery is trading policing for a new start as a trades apprentice, after more than six years as the town's sole-charge police officer.

Mr Avery, who grew up and was schooled in Kaeo, took on the job in May 2011. His last day was on Friday, December 1.

"It's been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It's an awesome community, and they've been really supportive," he said.

"It's a demanding role though, you're pretty much a fixer for any incident that happens."

Those incidents had ranged from the hilarious, such as trying to locate the owners of a turtle found wandering on a farm, to the tragic, such as family violence and fatal crashes in which he knew the victims. There were also plenty of floods, though the worst he saw were in his first year on the beat.

Highlights included working with Whangaroa College students and taking them on Blue Light camps in Auckland and at Lonsdale Park, and helping then college student Charlotte Morunga in her campaign for a liquor ban in Kaeo.

He had enjoyed being an iwi liaison officer on Waitangi Day, with its opportunities to interact with other Maori and encourage new recruits. Mr Avery was also involved, along with local businesses and the district council, in getting CCTV cameras installed, giving the town extra security and reassurance.

His philosophy was to "treat others how you would like to be treated", he said.

Mr Avery started his working life as a panelbeating apprentice. He then joined the navy, drove trucks and joined the police, inspired by former Kaeo officers Jim Bratty and the late Paddy Whiu.

"It was because of Jim Bratty and the way he supported youth in a little town like Kaeo. He was an awesome role model," he said.

He began his police career at Auckland Central, followed by eight years in Rodney. When his "dream job" came up in Kaeo, he jumped at it.

While he still enjoyed policing, at 48 he now wanted a change of career and his own business. There were also family reasons for the move to Auckland, where the plan was to take up an apprenticeship in a building-related trade.

"It's never too late to learn," he added.

Ultimately he hoped to return to Kaeo to set up a business and take on an apprentice from the college.

A temporary constable will be appointed to cover the busy summer period, while recruiting for a permanent replacement is under way.
The Kaeo community organised a surprise farewell for Mr Avery at the fire station on Thursday evening.