Among the accolades for five police staff at a Mosgiel ceremony was a peppering of puns by a top Taieri officer.
Clutha-Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Al Dickie joked freely when reading the ''personal files'' of four Taieri policemen and a retired receptionist at a ceremony at Holy Cross College in Mosgiel last week.
One of them, Senior Constable Jason Braid, of Mosgiel, was given an award for 14 years of service.
Snr Sgt Dickie questioned why Snr Const Braid had a certificate of competency as a New Zealand Coastal Master for a career with the police''Can you float the idea with us?'' Snr Sgt Dickie asked Snr Const Braid.
Sergeant Kevin Davidson, of Mosgiel, was recognised for 35 years' service and his failure to become a dog handler was mentioned.
''One thing that has dogged him in his career was his K9 handling ... no matter how much Kevin barked at his pooch it was destined to be a doomed relationship and Kevin was left to sniff out other opportunities.''
Retired Mosgiel police station receptionist Margaret Miller was recognised for her 28 years' service and her ''equestrian background'' was fair game for Snr Sgt Dickie.
''She came in a bit hoarse sometimes. That was back in her heyday, of course.''
He talked about her ''stable'' diet from a Mosgiel takeaway and how she helped ''rein in'' information on stolen gear.
The puns were scarce during the speech for 42 years' service of Sergeant Warren Kemp, the officer in charge of Dunedin International Airport.
But Snr Sgt Dickie got a laugh reading a comment from a course report describing Sgt Kemp as ''relatively immature'' in 1971.
Constable Tim Coudret, of Mosgiel, received recognition for his police work in Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake.
