Hey everyone
President Alice Albright opened the meeting giving us a quick rundown of the Rotary Police & Law Enforcement Professionals, Fellowship of Rotarians, with their motto being Peace through Service.
This fellowship was started in October 1994, making it one of the older Rotary Fellowships and was started by Sergeant Geoffery Little from New South Wales. He was fondly known as the Smiling Policeman.
Brian Hunter gave us a quick update on Ross Bay, who ins now looking much better, but has a long way to go.
Our thoughts are with you Ross and Gaylene. We miss your smiling face and wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back with us... real soon.
Please try and do as you are told!!!
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Our speaker for this evening was
Sergeant Sean McVerry.
Sean joined the police force in June 2017 and started his policing in Hamilton. He also studied Legislation and Firearms policies. He was a constable in the Police Support Unit and was promoted to Sergeant in April 2022. Sean said there has been a massive change in policing in the last 6 years, with some very challenging circumstances as to how to deal with young offenders.
A lot of the young offenders we are seeing now, have no fear of being caught as often prison may be better than their home life.
One of the major frustrations for the police, is ram raids etc as they are no longer allowed to chase them unless there is a risk that they may kill someone. Pretty scary.
Also domestic violence and family harm, where they may be dealing with up to 70 cases a day on the weekends, which is the worst time.
All police join the force because they want to make a difference, but they are severely understaffed, like all of our essential services, so are unable to do their job to the level that they would all love to be able to do.
Sean, we take our hat off to you and appreciate everything that you and your colleagues endeavor to do to make our country a safer place.
Keep up the good work.
Bit of an Elvis look-a-like don't you think?
