New campus policeman in it for the long haul

John Woodhouse
John Woodhouse
After more than 20 years on the front line, Senior Constable John Woodhouse is going to university.

The 54-year-old is excited to be appointed as the new campus constable, taking over from Max Holt, who retired in May after eight years in the role.

''It's a rather unique appointment. Only one other university has their own policeman and that's Massey University.''

Snr Const Woodhouse, who officially starts his new role on October 8, wants to continue the good work done by his predecessor.

Despite not having attended university himself, he looked forward to working with the student population.

''I don't want to go there to be a killjoy,'' he said.

''I'd rather have a smile on my face than a frown. I think students are a fun bunch and I'd like to be part of that.

''But, at the same time, there ... [must] be curbs to antisocial and criminal behaviour.

''People have a better time when they know what the boundaries are. Once you know what the boundaries are, you can get down to the serious business of having a good time.''

Non-students causing nuisance in the student quarter was an area he wanted to focus on.

''It's becoming an increasing issue - non-students coming down and contributing to disorder and dishonesty offending,'' he said.

''Students are being held responsible for things they aren't responsible for, so I will be trying to keep non-students out of the area.''

A ''hard line'' would also be taken with those who started couch and other nuisance fires.

''I believe that we have been pushing our luck too far for too long and it's a tragedy waiting to happen.

''If we don't keep the pressure on that area, it will be a disaster.''

He would work with the university proctor to ensure students who made ''minor mistakes'' could find ''alternative solutions'', which would not affect their future, rather than criminal convictions.

He planned to be in the role for the long haul.

''I expect to be campus cop until I retire, which will be no time soon,'' he said.

Snr Const Woodhouse was ''born and educated'' in Dunedin and he and wife Patricia have three children.

He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force at 17 and travelled extensively, before moving back to Dunedin in 1988 and joining the police in 1994.

He finishes front-line duty on Friday and will be settling into his place in the proctor's office in St David St from next week.

-timothy.brown@odt.co.nz

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