Source: New Zealand Police
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, members of the police executive and wing patron, Jude Simpson MNZM congratulated the 83 graduating constables from Wing 387 this afternoon.
Families and friends watched as the newly attested police officers marched out at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua. The celebration acknowledged the successful completion of their initial training course at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC).
New Zealand Police were joined by executives and staff from the Victoria Police of Australia and a minute’s silence was observed during the graduation for the loss of two officers in their jurisdiction last month.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, were killed in the line of duty in Porepunkah, Victoria on 26 August 2025.
Commissioner Chambers says, “It is important to mark the service Neal and Vadim gave to their communities, organisation and country.”
The top award winner for wing 387, former teacher and member of the New Zealand Airforce, Constable Sarah Thomas was excited to be heading to Wellington District to start her new career.
Constable Thomas is no stranger to policing and has worked in the Police Emergency Communications Centre and previously trained recruits as a Defensive Tactics Instructor at the RNZPC before donning the uniform.
“My family have been an amazing support for me coming into this, and I know I couldn’t have done it without them. I also could not have done this without my amazing 387-wing mates, my barrack mates especially. We are honestly like family. I’m also grateful for the support and encouragement of the amazing college staff, (my ex-colleagues), and of course, my section sergeant at the RNZPC.”
Sarah will be based in Wellington District.
Leadership Award Winner, Constable Laura Comerford, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Tapuika (Te Arawa), Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, is thrilled with her success.
“My primary reasons for wanting to join Police are first and foremost my beautiful nieces. I want to be a positive role model for them and encourage them to believe in themselves to achieve their goals. I want to uplift wāhine Māori to aspire to pursue their wildest dreams. The hardest part for me was believing I was actually good enough to be a police officer. I’d never been the fittest, smartest, or best at anything. Thankfully, I took a leap of faith, trained hard and had some key people that believed in me to help get me through. I’m living proof that with determination, discipline, perseverance and an amazing support system, anything is possible.
Laura will join Sarah in Wellington District.
Deployment:
The new constables will start their first day of duty in their Police districts on the week beginning Monday 15 September 2025 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.
Northland 1, Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 22 and broken down into the three districts: Auckland City 5, Waitematā 4, Counties Manukau 13, Waikato 9, Bay of Plenty 10, Eastern 2, Central 7, Wellington 16, Canterbury 8, Southern 7.
All Awards:
Minister’s Award recognising top student and the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Sarah Thomas posted to Wellington District.
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Constable Laura Comerford posted to Wellington District
Patron’s Award for second top student: Constable Daniel Brown posted to Canterbury District.
The Firearms Award: Constable Nathan Forster posted to Waitematā District.
Driver Training and Road Policing Award: Valentine Beattie posted to Eastern District.
Demographics:
25.3 percent are female, 74.7 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 68 percent of the wing, with Māori 12 percent, Pasifika 4.8 percent, Asian 12 percent, LAAM 2.4 percent.
Wing Patron, Jude Simpson MNZM, is a family harm education and training specialist. She is passionate about empowering victims of family harm to live their life to their full potential.
Jude has been working for the past 11 years at the Royal New Zealand Police College as the lead Family Harm Facilitator. She designed, developed, and delivers training for recruits on family harm from the perspectives of a victim and a perpetrator. Alongside other family harm training, this gives recruits a full view of family harm and how to respond to it with empathy and understanding.
Jude has also worked for Presbyterian Support Northern as a Family Violence Advocate and while in this role designed, developed, and delivered a programme for the Department of Corrections focusing on low-risk women offenders. The objective of the programme was to build self-esteem and empower and support the women into work or training.
Over the years, Jude has become a skilled presenter and facilitator, and she has spoken at many conferences as the keynote speaker.
Jude was the lead female spokesperson for the “It’s not ok” national campaign for several years and helped raise awareness of family harm and the needs of victims. She was the project lead on Mangere College becoming the first school in the country to be an “It’s not ok” school.
In 2018 Jude was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her contribution and work relating to family harm.
ENDS
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Issued by Police Media Centre