Concern over police exam, dates

Press, 17 December 1985, Page 20

Concern over police exam, dates

PA Wellington A Wellington policeman wants to know if the Police Department knowingly sets examination dates for budding Wellington seniorsergeants which clash with leading sporting fixtures and other events of public importance. “J[ can understand there being clashes of dates on one or two occasions but, really, four years in a row seems to be too much of a coincidence,” said Sergeant Harry Quinn, of Wellington, in the latest New Zealand Police Association journal.

Sergeant Quinn made application to sit examinations next year which have been

set for March 26, the day of the New Zealand-Australia one-day cricket match in Wellington. “This examination has been set down to be held on the day of one of the highlights of the forthcoming sporting year, a day when every red-blooded Kiwi fanatic will be riveted to his television or radio crying for the demise of those biased, arrogant Australian sportsmen,” he said. The editor of the Police Association newsletter, Geoffrey Terpstra, said the examinations rather than the important events determined a policeman/ woman’s future. “It is merely coincidental

that examinations subsequently clash with ‘events/dates of extreme importance’, ” said the editor. Sergeant Quinn said that in 1983 examinations were held during the August holidays when all “good family men are trying to devote time to their children.” “Those same family men know that the likelihood of them getting extended Christmas leave to coincide with their children’s holidays is unlikely.” Last year police examinations were staged at the same time as the Los Angeles Olympics Games which Sergeant Quinn described as “perhaps the greatest telecast sporting

gala of this century.” Police examinations this year had been set for the middle of the All Black tour of South Africa “when demonstration duty and sleepless nights make exam sitting a most difficult exercise.” “Only thanks to Justice Casey,” was the problem avoided, said Sergeant Quinn. ‘I believe the question must be asked. Does the administration deliberately set down examinations to be held at the most inconvenient time when they know that other events/dates of extreme public importance will clash with those timetables?” asked Sergeant Quinn.