Mr Marshall gladly accepted a challenge from Oamaru community constable and Oamaru Ordinary Cycle Club member Bruce Dow to ride a penny-farthing bicycle.
Const Dow said he had made the same offer to two previous commissioners, but Mr Marshall was the first to take it up.
But for a man who once faced down a machete-wielding mob in the Solomon Islands with a ceremonial sword, the challenge proved plain sailing.
The penny-farthing was "probably not" about to make a comeback, though, Mr Marshall said after his ride.
The commissioner was in Oamaru to advise personnel on recent changes to a more preventive style of policing while he also presented long-service medals to Oamaru senior constables Graeme McPherson (21 years) and Carl Pedersen (14 years). He said he had been impressed with the reaction shown to recent changes to police policy in Oamaru and throughout the district.
"The reaction has been very positive. I have heard good good reports across the Southern District and people are saying that this makes sense.
"There is real energy out there at the moment."
