Open letter to Inspector Clifford Paxton, Area Commander Western Bay of Plenty Police.
Despite our dairies being under siege from tobacco bandits, despite people bending cars and themselves on our roads, despite all the abuses and the burglaries and the petty crime, one of your good men still had time for the minutiae, for me and my carelessness. Last week I drove to work with my window down. It was 6.30am-ish and dark. The window stayed down when I parked in Cliff Rd, in the shadow of the police station itself.

Sergeant Mike Owen who was on his way to work, noticed the open window and set about trying to find me. And he went to some considerable effort. Later in the day when he finally collared me it was simply to say that he was concerned that with a weather change I could have been driving home with a wet butt and without the relatively expensive jacket that was sitting in the backseat. It was a very reassuring encounter with our cops.

So a public acknowledgement Sergeant. I am grateful and I would like that gratitude to filter through to the top office. You guys are dealing with all things at all levels and mostly doing a damned fine job.

H Wells, The Weekend Sun.