¡°I wanted to earn my way into college and earn my right to be a cop. I had to pass the same tests as everyone else. Yes, my hand doesn¡¯t work the same as everyone else¡¯s but I just find my way of doing things.¡±
Constable Ramon Diamond (Ngapuhi, Ngati Wai) graduated with Wing 330 at the Royal 51½ÖÉä College (RNZPC) in September. He is 29. When he was 17 fireworks went off in his hand ¨C he lost four fingers as his hand was ¡®shredded¡¯.
Now on section in Whang¨¡rei, Ramon¡¯s experience with the recruitment and training process at Police is that differences are accepted. His impairment was seen as a difference that he brought with him to Police, rather than a disability.
¡°I¡¯d wanted to be a cop straight out from school but when I did my hand I had to put that on hold.¡±
After the accident he spent two years in and out of hospital. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how many corrective surgeries I had. It was a long recovery but the surgeons were great and gave me a lot of mobility in my hand.
¡°It took me 10 years to adapt and come to terms with it ¨C put it to bed. For me to be normal in my own mind. I¡¯m at the point now that sometimes I forget that I¡¯ve got an impairment.¡±
Ramon worked as a lifeguard and then ended up in Levin as a teacher aide. ¡°There I was dealing with kids who were struggling with a lot of things in their lives and were dabbling in crime. You could see the patterns of family harm in their lives and other challenges.
¡°As a teacher aid I was a band-aid. I thought I could make more of a difference if I was in Police, and I¡¯d always wanted to be a cop, so I decided to chase it.¡±
But would he be considered for police college with his impairment? Ramon emailed the RNZPC and, after some discussion, a pre-assessment opportunity was organised.
He travelled to the college and spent two hours handling batons, tasers, cuffs, OC sprays - every tool police officers use on the beat.
¡°An instructor from each specialty area helped me work out how I would handle the tool. They were great. I was cleared on the spot and given the green light to go ahead with my application.¡±
Ramon was accepted as a recruit. Once at college, he found everyone treated him as if he was just another recruit ¨C which is exactly how he wanted it.
¡°People assumed that if I was at the College I must have met the grade and got through the application process just like everybody else ¨C which I did.
¡°I applied myself to everything ¨C some things challenged me with my hand, but a lot didn¡¯t bother me.¡±
The time with instructors in the pre-assessment enabled Ramon to have an idea of how to handle the tools. ¡°I already had a road map and only had to make slight adjustments.¡±
Firearms were a particular challenge. ¡°The pointers they give are designed for people with two hands. I had two weeks to figure out my way. One day it just clicked.¡±
With his new technique he could fire straight at target, and he passed all the firearms tests.
¡°There¡¯s a feeling at college that whatever you bring ¨C your personal differences ¨C they¡¯re acceptable. Everyone is taken as what they are.¡±
Sergeant Tony Davidson, Ramon¡¯s section sergeant at College, says he very quickly forgot Ramon even had an impairment.
¡°It never even crossed my mind. There was nothing fed back that he was having any difficulty. No issues were ever raised about his hand.
¡°Ramon just got on and proved his ability. In fact his peer group admired him ¨C they were almost in awe in some regards.¡±
Now part of the PST team based in Whang¨¡rei, Ramon says he realises he has a lot more to learn and is soaking it all up. As for his colleagues¡¯ response to his hand injury, he is very upbeat.
¡°I¡¯ve had a really good response on section. People are very curious about my hand. They¡¯re interested in how I do things. I prefer people to ask me about it, rather than not asking because they feel uncomfortable.
¡°But I don¡¯t want special treatment. I just want to get on and do the job. It does me a service to not think about my hand ¨C it works better if I just do something and if there¡¯s a problem I find a way to do it.¡±