(DOOR SLAMS) (DOG BARKS) All right, get out! Get out! Protecting us from crime nationwide. You can go. (MAN GROANS) (BLEEP). (INDISTINCT RT CHATTER) This way! For the more than 1700 female police officers,... We'll be here all day. ...every day brings them face-to-face with danger. (MAN SHOUTS) Can you just show some respect, please? These streets are tough,... Don't tell people you're gonna kill 'em, then. ...so they need to be tougher. RT: People running for their lives. (BLEEP)! Police-dog handler. Come out now! They reckon there might be kids in there. OK` (BLEEP)! Just calm` (BLEEP)! (DOOR SLAMS) Right, get out! (DOG BARKS) Get out! It's something that I will never forget. Bring it back. Bring it back. (GROUP LAUGHS) (ROCK MUSIC) Copyright Able 2017 (TENSE MUSIC) In Cannons Creek, a suburb just north of Wellington, Constable Emma Daken is rushing to a dispute. Um, there's a male at the address who has a knife, and he's threatening to stab the informant. So, when Comms dispatches you to a job that comes across as particularly dangerous, uh, you're constantly assessing the situation en route to that job. (SIREN WAILS) Because there's a mention of a knife, obviously there's a bit of an incentive to get there quicker. It can be scary, but you also run on adrenaline, and that's` that's part of the fun of the job, you know? That's` (LAUGHS) That's part of the reason you join. And it does take a certain kind of person to do that. I have a few interests outside of policing. So, I really enjoy my sports. My fiance and I, kind of, bonded over our shared love of mountain biking. It's quite cute ` he actually proposed on our favourite mountain bike tracks. I'm also currently training for an Ironman, so I've been spending a lot of time running and swimming and cycling. Emma loves putting her pedal to the metal, and she's not shy of hitting the road in the name of a good cause either. My friend got really, really sick a couple of years ago, and I decided that I wanted to do something to help her and to raise awareness of what cystic fibrosis is. So I thought it would be quite appropriate to combine an exercise-type thing with a publicity campaign, and I'd always wanted to walk the length of New Zealand, um, for some reason. Uh, I'd just turned 20, and I started my walk in Cape Reinga and walked through Taupo, uh, Rotorua, out to Napier, through Palmerston North ` so I took the scenic route ` and then, yeah, finished up in Bluff 70 days later. It was a challenge, and I learned heaps about myself, you know, and just the determination and how I react when things get tough. Just north of Wellington, Emma has been called to a violent dispute. The informant, who has taken refuge up the street, has concerns about a knife. Taser? MALE OFFICER: Yeah. So, I heard this guy had a knife, and you didn't know what his demeanour was, you didn't know what his intentions were. So, to me, uh, I can` I was concerned that I could get hurt or that someone else in that area could get hurt as well. So you arm yourself with a taser, um, and it's all decision-making, and you go into the job and, uh, you're constantly reassessing. (BLEEP)! FEMALE OFFICER: Can you just come out here for a second, please? Can you just come out here? And my partner's gonna search you, OK? (BLEEP)! Show your hands, please. Uh, she's not` She's nothing to do with it. She's upstairs. Sir, can you show me your hands, please? ANGRILY: I can't move this hand! Why not? Cos I had a stroke! OK, just calm` (BLEEP)! OK, just put it away. (BLEEP)! (DOOR SLAMS) (BLEEP)! Yep. We get to the address, and instantly I see that the front door is smashed in, and the two occupants of the address are` are highly agitated and don't want police there. Can you just come to the door? I've just had a (BLEEP)ing stroke! (BLEEP)! Yep. Jesus (BLEEP)ing Christ. When someone's shouting at me, it's kind of like water off a duck's back now. Hey, um, we've just been told that you might have a knife on you, OK? Oh, rubbish! That's why we're wanting to search you. Particularly the area that I work, it's quite common. I did get a bit of a shock when someone first called me, (LAUGHS) you know, something they shouldn't have or someone yelled or spat at me. I` I was a little bit taken back, but, uh, you get used to it. Emma manages to calm the man down. And with no knife to be seen, he welcomes her in for a yarn. Yeah. But once inside, drama starts to unfold. Are we able to get an ambulance to tend to this address? He's just out of hospital after suffering a stroke. But this is the` MALE OFFICER: Oh, OK. And is complaining of chest pains. We'll get Ambo over. Um` Am I allowed a smoke? What's that? I don't mind. It's` Do you mind if I smoke, mate? No, you're all right. I dunno if you should be, though, if we're gonna get Ambulance to` OK. All right. It's up to you. You're an adult. A big part of the job is` is trying to help people, and... a big frustration is when you offer this help and they don't take that help on board. So I had to laugh when he started having a cigarette. It's just, like, 'If you're having chest pains, I probably wouldn't do that.' But on the same token, I recognise that that's probably what he does to calm himself down, and, you know, like I said, it is a high-stress, high-emotional situation. While they wait for the ambos to arrive, Emma discovers that there are two versions of events. (BLEEP) thrown him out the door, and he's walked into the window. Mm, OK. Yeah, cos, um, (BLEEP) is saying that she's seen him kick it. You'll find that most jobs you go to, uh, you'll get conflicting stories. And so one party will tell you one thing, and then another party will tell you the complete opposite. I think it's very rare that you go to a job where all parties agree on the version of events. And that's the fun part of the job. Like, I really like, uh, the investigative side of the job. With our man distracted, his flattie confirms that both sides aren't entirely guilt-free ` our man for his unsportsmanlike conduct, and the informant for taking this out on the glass door. But because two wrongs don't make a right, one half of this badly behaved duo is arrested for wilful damage, while our man's dodgy ticker means he avoids a trip to the station this time but gets a stern warning. Yeah, agreed. But if you get into that position again where you do get so angry, you need to remove yourself, eh? I will do, yeah. Cos we can't keep coming to these incidences. No. (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) Yeah. So next time, it'll` it'll probably end in arrest, OK? I definitely feel like the job has made me grow. I think I'm more rounded as a person. It's a challenge working where I work, but I love that. You learn every day. Every day is a school day, and if you're not learning, you're not in the right job. 1 (UPBEAT MUSIC) In Wellington, Sr Const Sue Burridge and her dog, Hades, are off to a burglary at a Lower Hutt bar. Unfortunately, it's got quite a big time delay. I'm not sure why we weren't called sooner. But we'll have a crack, see how we get on. 20 minutes have passed since the alarm was first activated, but Sue's determined to still crack the track. Being competitive drives us. It is a motivator. And we don't like to lose. (ROCK MUSIC) I've always wanted to join the police. When I was at primary school, we had to do an autobiography, and in my job description, I put 'police-dog handler'. I think I've been extremely lucky. I've worked on diplomatic protections, prime ministers ` some amazing people. Who goes to work and gets winched out of a helicopter on to a police launch? I've had lots of experiences that most people don't` they get to dream about. I get to live it. (DOG BARKS) Through there? MAN: Yeah. Sue and Hades are checking out a break-in at a Lower Hutt bar. After a 30-minute time delay, tracking down the offenders is a tough task, but not for our German-designed, four-legged sniffing machine. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) Hades and I have worked together for a number of years. I learn his body language, so I can tell when he's on the track and when he's off the track. What've you got buddy, eh? What ya got? Good boy. It's something, as a team, that you learn over a period of time. Good boy. Pretty hard tracking, especially when we're right behind someone, because the scent's fresh, and he's pretty keen to be chasing them. So I've gone home at the end of shifts with some pretty serious rope burn on my hands, (LAUGHS) just trying to hold him back. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES) Right, get out! Get out! Where are your mates? MAN: What mates? Get out. Walk out. (HADES PANTS) Walk out. Get out. (PANTS) Get out. Good boy, Hades. Yeah, roger. Good boy. That a boy. Good boy. Keep walking up to the sergeant. You all right, Cookie? (BARKS) Come. Hades, come. With the first offender in the hands of another patrol, Sue's back to business and goes in search of the other bar burglars. So, for multiple offenders, we can catch the first person and then we can move on and continue tracking. All right there, buddy? They may not all run the same way, but we can track, move back to a second start point where the second offender has run off and keep doing that until we've got them all rounded up. ANGRILY: Get out! Get up and get out! Now. Both of ya. Get out, or I'll let the dog in there. (PANTS) Comms, started off with two. Yeah, down by the river. I'll just have to walk them out. Got two females here. Just walk out there. OK? Do not come near the dog. WOMAN: OK. You run, and the dog will be chasing you, not me. Yep, OK. Got it. Yep, go left up there. Hey, stay with your mate. Come back here and stay with your mate. Now go up left. Finding three offenders is a great day at the office for Sue. All up, the track took 30 minutes, but it's taken its toll on Sue and Hades, who is all barked out. He's too tired to bark, like me. (CHUCKLES) Good boy. What a good dog. What a good dog. We ain't done nothing. Bro! You've been arrested` Hanging out with our friends. Wow (!) You have the right to remain silent. Hanging out with your friends in the blackberry bushes? What? Result... (LAUGHS) for a time delay. Very tired dog. (CHUCKLES) He's worked hard. It's a long track for him, eh? Ooh! (CHUCKLES) Jesus. (LAUGHS) That was a leap! (PANTS) Hey, buddy. You're a clever dog. We often get jobs where we don't catch the bad guys, for whatever reason. It's disappointing, I think, as a dog handler. You don't like to walk away from a job when you've not caught them. We are competitive ` big time. (LAUGHS) PEOPLE CHATTER, DANCE MUSIC PULSATES They've been on the sauce. They've been on the sauce. Your party! They've been on the sauce. Your party! That's Mary's boy, isn't it? Yeah. Maybe you should say something. Maybe you should say something. Nah. I'm crap at that kind of thing, Barry. Yeah, but they're just kids. If we don't say something... (GROANS) Hey, boys? Boys? Why don't you get a lift home tonight? Oh, whatever, mate. I've only had a couple. No, no, no, no. It's too late now. I've spoken to you and I know your mum, so that means our fates are aligned. You get into that car and you get yourself killed or you kill someone else, I become part of it too. How? How? Well, it's like, um, my balls are in your hands. BOYS LAUGH, SNORT BOY: Oh, you want the balls! BOY: Oh, you want the balls! Nobody wants that. Hey, how about I drive you? What? Oh. What? Oh. BOYS LAUGH, DANCE MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO (SWITCHES RADIO STATION) (SWITCHES RADIO STATION) YODELLING MUSIC PLAYS I like it. So, today, um, we're front line. We're gonna just basically be listening to the radio, and they're gonna be directing us to and from different jobs. Um, we're thinking, well, with Polyfest on tonight, that's gonna be quite busy. Um, possibly a few disorders here and there, but we're not too sure. So that's all the excitement with the police, I guess, yeah. So, I've been in the police for three years. In October 2014, I graduated as a sworn constable, so now I'm working front line, um, at Manurewa Police Station. Hi. How are ya? Good. That's good. I like to try and wave at all the kids, because sometimes I think that parents make the younger kids scared of the police, when, actually, they should be the ones calling police if they're in need of help. So I always like to give them a wave. They always get quite surprised, especially in Manurewa. (CHUCKLES) For me, I like people to know that I take my job really seriously, but it's important that sometimes you do have a laugh. I'll have a turn. Here, have a turn. Up. (WHOOSH!) (LAUGHS) (MEN LAUGH) My way of policing is that I'd like to make people feel comfortable when they deal with us, and we're not just there to arrest bad people. It's just after 2am, and Carley has been called to a T-bone collision in South Auckland. Did you see what happened? Um, I was the driver. Oh, OK. Sweet, man. Yeah, yeah. So, what's gone on tonight? Um, we just` I was just leaving McDonald's. Yeah. Um, just finished a comp. And then I was turning to go on the motorway, and then the car pulled out. Pulled out of here? Yeah, out of the driveway. So they've, kind of, not seen you driving by? Yeah, nah. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and a bouncer who witnessed the event confirmed the young man's story. Unfortunately, the car is a write-off, and Carley's organised a towie to clear it from the busy road. Have you guys got someone that can pick you up? MAN: Yeah, I think. Hopefully these guys will take them. Oh yeah, sweet. Prestige, eh? Yeah. Wow. You guys gonna do a little performance for us? Yeah. Turns out our T-bone victim is a member of one of New Zealand's top dance groups, and Carley's keen to check out their moves. Whoo! You know, if I wasn't a cop, I'd wanna be a dancer. What? Yeah. Why? Why? Why? Because it's so much fun. We deal with so many negative things, and it's important that we obviously take our jobs seriously but, at the same time, have a little bit of fun. Your turn! Better work stories. Dance move. Hmm. (CHATTER, LAUGHTER) Oh, wait, wait, wait. OK, wait. Let's all do the worm. Like this? Oh! Sh`! Come on. Oh yeah, I showing them` showing them up, I think. (LAUGHS) Might come out with my dance crew. Is that it? Wait, wait. I'm` No, I'm better at the other way. Which way? I'm better the other way. Go. (IMITATES SIREN) Bring it back. Bring it back. (LAUGHS) Hey! (LAUGHTER) With the tow truck on the scene, Carley's street-side boogie has come to an end. And although she may have lost a dance battle, at least she's left the driver in better spirits. Cool. Thank you very much. See ya, bro. All the best. Thank you. Thank you! Bye. See ya. Prestige Dance` Dance Crew. Wait, wait... (LAUGHTER) Get better work stories! I know that a lot of people look at me and all they see is the police sign that's on my shoulder. Although I'm very proud of being a police officer and a member of the New Zealand Police, I also want people to know that we are humans as well, and that we've got the same feelings or similar feelings that they have, and we may have been in a situation ourselves that they've been put through. My, kind of, way of policing, I'd really like to think that I can change that ` well, for some people. In many cases, our Women in Blue's work life and personal life become one and the same. This is true of Sr Const Sue Burridge. I've written a children's book. It's called The Adventures of Police Dog Zeus. It's about a puppy who's afraid of the dark, and it's how he overcomes his fears to become a police dog. The opportunity to write about something that I'm very passionate about and to be able to share that with children has been an amazing experience. Today Sue and Hades are visiting some of their young fans at a primary school in Porirua. (LAUGHS) Heel. Heel. Sit. Hello, everyone. I'm Sue, and this is Hades. He's my partner in crime of probably about four years. We've` I'll just take a seat while he's eating. So, what do you think we do on the street? Yes? Catch bad people. That's it. How do you think we catch them? At the back. You follow their scent cos of Hades. (LAUGHS) Where did you get that from? The book. (LAUGHS) Good girl. I love the workings of the kids' minds and how they get a kick out of different parts of the book ` what appeals to them, what they think is real. Sue's visit is not only special for the children. It's an opportunity for her to escape the harsh realities of policing ` something Principal John Wootton is very well aware of. Oh, well, I particularly enjoyed this exercise, uh, because it was Sue. Um, and, uh,... there's obviously a particular reason for that. In, um, 2008, my brother, who was the Senior Sgt at the Porirua Police Station, um, was killed on duty. (SOMBRE MUSIC) Police around the country are mourning the loss of one of their own, killed in the line of duty. 52-year-old Sgt Derek Wootton died after a stolen car hit him during a police pursuit. Sue was the dog handler on that, uh` on that particular occasion, and she was the first person, um, on the scene ` so after Derrick was hit by the car and killed. REPORTER: A female officer arrived within minutes and desperately tried to perform CPR, but the 14-year veteran was already dead. I realised something serious must have happened when the police officer ` the lady police officer ` started crying. And I actually went over with a cup of coffee for them both, um, with some sugar in it, because they were obviously in shock. I think, for me, probably one of the darkest days of my career, or the worst days, was the day... (SOBS) that I lost a colleague. (SOMBRE PIANO MUSIC) It's something that I will never forget and the people that were working with me that night will never forget. REPORTER: A guard of honour for a man of honour. (DOGS BARK) Even the police dogs fell silent as Derek Wootton's coffin was borne past his grieving family. We thought when you go to work,... you see your workmates, you do your job, you go to jobs with them. I guess you don't` Again, as I said before, you don't think about what could happen... and the fact that... (SOFTLY) one person might not go home. It's` It's pretty tough. (SNIFFLES) (SOFT PIANO MUSIC) (CHATTER, LAUGHTER) Good boy. Go on, Patrick. You don't forget. And I'll never forget that night. But I think it's made me a better cop. No. (LAUGHS) (CHILDREN LAUGH) It taught me that it's OK not to be tough all the time. (CHUCKLES) It's good to show your vulnerable side, because it's what makes me human. # And this inside out. # I want the best, # but our love is lost. # And this is inside out. # I want you here... # Nah. Yeah. Nah, I hear ya, but nah.