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Rainier Coetzee has stepped up to the job of Sergeant at the Wellsford Police Station, replacing Geoff Medland who departed at the start of the year.
Sergeant Coetzee has been with NZ Police for 16 years and, apart from two years spent at the North Shore District Court, has spent that time as a frontline officer.
“Working on the frontline, dealing with offenders and working with victims face-to-face really opens your eyes to everything,” Sgt Coetzee says.
Sgt Coetzee always knew he wanted to be an officer and joined the NZ police at 18 years old. Sgt Coetzee has embraced the rural lifestyle the area has to offer, switching scenes from the busy North Shore to settle his young family in Pakiri. It’s an ideal location, considering that when he’s not policing his favourite activity is surfing.
Sgt Coetzee says he wants to bring a prevention-based approach to policing, recognising that Wellsford is a tight-knit community.
“I am looking forward to getting out there and meeting local kaumatua and schools, and getting involved with youth as part of Blue Light. If you see me, please do come and say ‘hello’.”
“It’s all about establishing trust and confidence, and I believe we are only as good as our community.
The door is always open at the station and no piece of information is too small.”
He understands the challenges of policing a large district like Rodney, where it is difficult to have a presence in every corner.
“I am hoping that I can make use of my good relationship with Orewa road cops to bring them up more often to do road checks in the Dome Valley and improve safety in a high-risk crash area,” he says.
