Leading from the front
March 7th, 2013 at 11:00 am by David FarrarSam Boyer at Dom Post reports:
After 400 metres of running, climbing, and “hanging on like a limpet”, the country’s top cop came out smiling – and put 294 of his staff to shame.
Commissioner Peter Marshall completed the police physical competency test yesterday and, in doing so, the 59-year-old also showed up the hundreds of officers who were deemed unfit last week to hold frontline posts. …
The commissioner ran the course in 2 minutes and 56 seconds, earning himself a “gold card”. Because he holds a rank higher than inspector, he is not required to pass the test, but wanted to set an example.
“If I can do it, there’s no reason why others can’t do it. It was a matter of walking the talk. I wanted to be able to look operational staff in the eye and say that I’ve got it.
The current Commissioner seems to be near universally respected by the rank and file – which certainly has not always been the case for that role.
Completion times for the course are determined by an officer’s age and gender. The commissioner needed to get round the course in 3 minutes and 26 seconds, so he was 30 seconds under par.
To earn the star-performer gold card, he also needed to successfully scale the 1.8-metre-high wall.
“Anyone over 50 just has to tap it [the wall] … To get the gold card, you have to go over the top,” Mr Marshall said.
The wall was the most gruelling of the 10 challenges in the test, he said – especially with staff watching his performance.
The other tests were:
- Pushing a car trailer 10 metres
- Carrying a car wheel assembly 10 metres
- Running 200 metres
- Walking a five-metre right-angle beam, a metre off the ground
- Jumping a 1.8-metre long jump
- Running around cones and under and over hurdles for 30 metres
- Climbing through a one-metre-high window
- Climbing over a solid 1.8-metre-high wall
- Dragging a body 7.5 metres
- Climbing a 2.2-metre-high wire fence
Not sure I’d want to try that!
Tags: Peter Marshall, Police
March 7th, 2013 at 11:21 am
“Completion times for the course are determined by an officer’s age and gender.”
Yep, an official admission that women front line police even with the best of intentions, cannot fully back up their male colleagues.
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 11:23 am
“Completion times for the course are determined by an officer’s age and gender.”
Are New Zealand’s criminals joined in on the spirit of this? Have they agreed to slow down if they are being chased by a female police officer instead of a male one?
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 11:39 am
This is not leading from the front.
It just says the guy is in good shape.
A commissioner doesn’t need to prove shit.
He needs to be doing his job as commissioner.
Could Montgomery have scaled the cliffs on D Day?Didn’t need to.
So if a certain section of parliament is hell bent on equality I suggest they get the fit commissioner to ensure equality in front line fitness and indeed in the very selection for the office of constable,then watch as all those front line females fail.
Equality is equality after all!
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 11:39 am
The current Commissioner seems a good guy and I hope he renews his contract for 5 years this time. He was appointed by Judith Collins whose judgment I trust on these matters.
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 11:43 am
Hey Legend … Put that man back on the beat! South Auckland maybe?
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 11:43 am
kowtow#
The main role of the Commissioner is to keep the ranks in line.
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
In other news, BRING BACK THE KRYPTON FACTOR!
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Redbaiter – yep. as my brother and his cops mates used to say “having a female partner is like not having a partner”.
this test seems easier than the old one. the 2.4km run in 10 minutes would kill Dime! but im more of a fast twitch muscle type guy. pushing a car, dragging stuff, jumping a fence.. all piss easy.
but the run. urgh.
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
I have been chortling all morning thinking about Broad Howard, Marshall’s predecessor, attempting this course…but that said, the comments re Montgomery on D Day are well made…
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
2.4k in 10 mins would be 4 minute kms. That’s damn fast, not many people run that fast. I doubt that was the number.
Sounds like he’s a good bloke who knows how to inspire his team. I don’t mind whether he does it by running the course or in other ways, the point is that he’s prepared to put his money where his mouth is, and everybody likes working for someone like that.
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
The present group of Commissioners are probably the best we have ever had. As well as Peter Marshall, Mike Bush and Viv Rickard are also top police officers, well respected by all in the force. That’s Rickard by the way, not Rickards, who is no relation, and not respected by anyone.
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 5:12 pm
Gen. Freyberg of course was famous for “leading from the front”…in fact as I recall from his bio, he was nearly captured a couple of times because he got too close to the filthy hun…Imagine the boost to the Police morale if Marshall was in the habit of turning up at police stations and going on shift with crews?
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 5:12 pm
Agreed Ricardp – my friends in the police have nothing but good things to say about Peter Marshall and his fellow leaders. They no longer refer to Police National HQ as “Bullshit Castle” any more either. As with Jerry Mateparae as G-G, the appointment of Marshall to the role of Police Commissioner was an inspired one.
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Doesn’t he already do that David? I seem to recollect reading that he regularly accompanies his troops on patrol, as do the Deputy and Assistant Commissioners
Vote:March 7th, 2013 at 6:46 pm
Cato.
Bullets travel faster than a criminal and it’s about time the Police started firing them. You see the Police need to be first instead of second.
Vote:Peter Marshall? give that man a beer
March 7th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Ricardo: A senior cop told me a good story about Rickards…apparently when the group whose job it is to investigate cops turns up a a police station, everyone usually finds a good reason to leave the station pronto…when it was Rickards’ turn, they were all lining up in the corridor outside where the unit had set up, eager to add their two cents’ worth to the investigation into complaints about him…
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 7:54 am
He may be fit but he is a dropkick.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 8:59 am
Pete Marshall is a good bastard. Leads his troops from the front and does not take any crap from woolly woofters. Far better than broad sword. Reminds me of a former boss, Dick Macdonald.
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