Police and civilian receive bravery awards for their - New Zealand ...

New Zealand Police AssociationNo, these ‘bikers’ did not turn up to show their respects at the US Police Memorial Day inWashington recently. They are actually police officers who are members of a law enforcementmotorcycle club called the Untouchables, which was formed in Indiana in 2000. The club isfor police officers who ride American-made motorcycles. They took their experiences, bothgood and bad, and created what would later become the most recognized and respected lawenforcement motorcycle club in the world - the Untouchables Motorcycle Club.From the beginning, it was determined that the UMC would be created solely to benefit thewidows and children of fallen police officers, strengthen the ‘brotherhood’, and to promotetheir love of motorcycling. The Club’s motto quickly became, “Riding for our Brothers thatcan’t.” The Club’s chosen name “Untouchables” was used to describe Federal AgentEliot Ness’ group of law enforcers that took on mob kingpin, Al Capone, during Chicago’sprohibition era. The club’s colours are forged in black and orange. Other than red, white,and blue, these are the colours most closely associated with American-made goods. Thecentrepiece features a menacing skull character aptly named, “Eliot.” Like his famousnamesake, Eliot wears a black Fedora hat, black trench coat, black gloves, and a gold Policestar to signify that he is a protector. In his hands, he carries a smoking Thompson submachinegun, to warn against evil.Two shots and alligator is stone-cold deadPolice responding to a rare alligatorsighting in suburban Kansas City tookquick action to dispatch the beast,shooting it in the head, as instructed,while it lurked menacingly in the weedsleading down to a pond.It wasn’t until a second rifle shotbounced off the reptile’s head thatthe officers realised they had mortallywounded a concrete lawn ornament,Associated Press recently reported.A resident of a subdivision near thepond called police to report that hischildren spotted the alligator while theywere playing in some nearby woods.After consulting a conservation agent,who told them to kill the gator if theyfelt it posed a danger; one of the officersshot it twice in the head before realisingsomething was up, said Tom Gentry, anIndependence Police spokesman.“It didn’t move,” Gentry said. “Theyinched up closer and closer anddiscovered it was a mock-up of a realalligator.”In the officers’ defence, it was growingdark when they shot the fake gator andit was partially submerged in the weeds.The property owner told police that thegator was meant to keep people off hisproperty, Gentry said. Officers told hima no-trespassing sign would have beenwiser.“Now he’ll have to patch up hisalligator,” Gentry said.Survey aboutdecision-makinginvites yourparticipationFormer and current police officers areinvited to participate in an anonymousonline survey about career decisionmaking.The study will focus on career decisionmakingof police officers and teacherswho stay in these professions or enternew careers.It is hoped that the information gained willbe of use to police officers and teachersconsidering career change; counsellorsassisting police officers and teacherswith career transitions; and police andeducation departments in addressingthe needs of their staff and keepingexperienced staff in the professions.If you elect to participate, you will berequired to complete an anonymousonline survey. This will take approximately10-30 minutes depending uponthe number of questions relevant to yourparticular experience.Participation is completely voluntary,and you may withdraw from the researchat any stage, with no questions asked.The results of the study will be reportedin a thesis as part of a degree in SocialScience (Psychology, Honours), and theoverall findings may be published inprofessional journals and/or at scholarlyconferences.If you wish to take part in the study,please type the link below (in bold) intoyour web browser. Completion andsubmission of the survey communicatesconsent.https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/csu-career-decision-makingBecause the survey is anonymous, ifyou would like to receive feedbackabout the findings of this research,please send an email requesting asummary of the results to the researcher:loenehowes@yahoo.com.auA summary of the findings of the researchwill be sent to you by mid-October.We would be pleased to address anyquestions or concerns about the study.If you require further information, pleasecontact the researcher: Loene Howeson 0417 466 842 or loenehowes@yahoo.com.au or the supervisor JaneGoodman-Delahunty on 02 99344831 or by email at: jdelahunty@csu.edu.auAugust 2011201