Two new constables have returned to the South Island from police college, and two new police puppies have arrived to begin their training.
Constables Desiree Hoera (34) and Larissa Muir (31) are in week four of their new jobs in road policing.
Const Hoera has returned to her home city in Dunedin, while Const Muir has moved to the big smoke from Balclutha.
For Const Hoera, joining the police was about representation.
"I’m Maori, so I believe that the police should reflect our community and believe we need more female Maori officers, so that was kind of my drive," she said.
She said she joined the police to help people.
"This was a good place to start."
Meanwhile, 8-week-old puppies Harlie and Harlem arrived this week from the police dog training centre in Upper Hutt.
Dog section supervisor Sergeant Mike Calvert said the pups’ training would start next week with socialisation, and then tracking work.
Fully training a police dog costs about $70,000, and can take anywhere from 13 months to two years, depending on the dog.
Police dogs were usually Alsatians, because they were strong enough to take people down and good to teach, he said.
Not all police puppies will go on to become operational. Those dogs may be offered to search and rescue teams or airport security, or rehomed.
Sgt Calvert, who has been a dog handler for 16 years, said it was one of the more sought-after jobs in policing.
"It’s awesome, it’s all the action. Just working with dogs is the main thing, to solve crime and prevent crime."
While other officers can go home and switch off, dog handlers take their work home with them.
"It’s a lot of commitment."
