For Constable Cezanne Lea¡¯atoa, his first day on the job is definitely one for the memory bank.
A graduate of Wing 379, Cezanne reported for duty two weeks later with the Auckland City District Community Beat Team ¨C his first shift as a police officer.
Before getting stuck in, he supported another officer on his first day in his role: Commissioner Richard Chambers.
Commissioner Chambers was announcing the new Police Base on Federal St in Auckland CBD (pictured, right) ¨C home to the Community Beat Team, alongside the Prime Minister and Police Minister.
Fifty-one beat cops work out of the base, which will have a public counter by the middle of next year.
From base to the beat, Cezanne got his first arrest just hours later - a woman who¡¯d shoplifted $1,330 worth of clothing from a high-end store.
Further investigation revealed 19 other offences over a year across T¨¡maki Makaurau, totalling almost $15,000 and earning the offender a next-day court appearance.
"This was great work by Cezanne and emphasises the tremendous work being done by all Community Beat Teams to increase public safety, visibility and reassurance,¡± says Auckland City Prevention Manager Inspector Beth Houliston.
For Cezanne, he says he felt warmly welcomed into district on a day to remember.
¡°Walking into a building I've never been in, with the amount of support backing you as you walk through the door and being part of a team I've never been a part of, automatically made me feel like I belonged.
¡°And to top it all off, having the opportunity to meet the new Commissioner and the Prime Minister before heading out is something I will always remember.
¡°To hear them thank me for work I haven't even begun to do yet, certainly magnified the fire in me to do my part in keeping the communities safer."
Tonga-born Cezanne, whose father was a police officer there, is adapting to the blue uniform after previously serving as an Authorised Officer.
¡°I couldn't be happier with how my first shift played out, as well as the amount of support and guidance I received following the arrest. It was a team effort at the end of the day, and it was a first of 'first days'.¡±
Beth adds: "All constabulary staff have memories of their first day, but to make an arrest and rub shoulders with the new Commissioner and the Prime Minister is pretty special."