He started on the frontline 12 years ago and now he’s headed back to it – this time as a sergeant.

New Zealand Police have launched a new podcast called ‘Offbeat’, where you can listen all about what a career in police is like from different officers around the country.

Tauranga Police Station’s frontline officer Sergeant Tanerahi Keno – or TK – is part of the podcast series and the Weekend Sun caught up with him to see what the job is really like.

Attending the Royal New Zealand Police College in 2011, TK has been in the police for more than 12 years.

From working as a frontline officer, a field training officer, a detective in the criminal investigation branch, a police negotiator to a sergeant on the frontline – it’s fair to stay he’s kept his time in the police varied.

“It’s a whole career of getting amongst communities and helping people. At the time I joined, I was working in retail and you’re always amongst people there and get a feel for interacting with the public and dealing with situations,” says TK.

Frontline return

Back on the frontline and in a sergeant role for more than a month now has been amazing, says TK. And he’s got a lot of new cops on his team. “They’re hugely enthusiastic and it’s just amazing to be a part of it bouncing of each other and sharing ideas.

“I’m learning as well as teaching so it’s not just one-sided but I’m really enjoying that team atmosphere on the frontline and dealing with incidents coming through as we dispatch to them.”

TK says part of the sergeant role is: “You’re helping to prioritise what incidents units need to go to but as they go there, you back them up as well where you can offer advice based on your experience or legislation on how you can resolve incidents”.

Negotiating and listening

Alongside his sergeant role, TK still works as a police negotiator on a week-on/week-off roster. He says the police negotiator role is about providing “an extra line of communication to resolve situations and outcomes without anyone getting hurt”.  

“I’ve worked on many things from suicidal people to hostage-type situations and armed people barricaded in their addresses. It can be low level, to the top end where you’ve got all the tactical groups involved.”

And it’s all about listening, says TK. “You’re not just saying: ‘You have to come out’. You actually have to listen and make sure that they actually feel heard.”

TK says working in the police it involves being mindful about what ‘better work stories’ means to you. “We’ve had people straight away assume that better work stories are because it’s all high-end [incidents] – but for me, ‘better work stories’ is about better results in the community.

“You’re still going to people’s emergencies, so it’s about taking that responsibility and care with dealing with people’s feelings.”

After more than a decade in the force, TK says he still very much enjoys it. “I’ve never thought about leaving. I’ve thought of different roles I’m able to move around to.

“It’s been amazing to keep that longevity as a career – and there’s still many places I can go in my time in police so I’m always considering where to next.” To check out the ‘Offbeat’ podcast, visit: https://www.newcops.govt.nz/offbeat