Newly minted senior sergeant Christopher (Chris) Brooks has had his feet under his new desk in the Wānaka police station for just two weeks, and he’s full of ideas for how to deal with the challenges facing the Wānaka community.

A “Christchurch boy”, Chris has served 35 years in the police force in Canterbury, Auckland, the North Island Lakes district, and most recently six years in Queenstown.

He has always worked as a frontline officer, he told the Wānaka App, including as a rural police officer, and an alcohol and drug prevention officer.

“You can’t police without the community on your side,” he said.

Chris has been working on drug and alcohol prevention in Queenstown, collaborating with the hospitality industry and community groups to reduce assaults and “try to stop people getting hurt as much”.

New Year’s eve is already a focus for Wānaka’s new senior sergeant.

He knows Wānaka from policing at events here, and said he and his team are already planning for New Year’s eve.

Chris is concerned about the way young women in particular can be treated over the New Year period, and said his goal is that “everyone that comes here on holiday should go home safely”.

There is an increase in the number of events now the border is open, and Chris wants to work with the community to find ways of impressing this community’s values on visitors. 

“The good news is we have a fantastic relationship with bar owners,” he said.

“We’re trying to work with the community about how we tell these people who come to festivals and New Year’s eve: don’t leave your values at home.”

Chris has already met with the Wānaka Alcohol Group to discuss this challenge.

While the Wānaka police do a good job with community engagement, he believes they can do even more.

“I’m really excited to finally get my feet under the desk. I’m enthusiastic and I’ve got some ideas for being more involved in the community,” he said.

Chris said the main challenge here continues to be keeping our roads safe.

“We have big roads, and we want to keep people from hurting themselves.”

He warned that Wānaka police are planning a road policing safety operation in June, focusing on speed, safety belts, and cell phones. 

“Do the basics well, because you don’t know who’s coming around the corner,” he said.

Chris said the police have already started seeing crashes on the district’s roads from visiting drivers.

Another challenge for Wānaka is dealing with the impact of the drugs that follow summer festivals and events.

While Wānaka’s drug problem in general is no worse than in other places, Chris said, he thinks it may be more visible than in a city.

“But we as a smaller place can do more about it.”

Wānaka is fortunate to have “some very experienced officers” among the team of 20 or so in the station, Chris said, and we also have a new rural liaison officer, Constable Ben Wallbank, whose role is to work with our smaller rural communities, for example regarding theft and road safety.

“That’s great for this station - someone to support farmers and people with lifestyle blocks.”

Chris is a rowing coach, and a “sportsperson in general”, he said.

“I’m passionate about rowing and I’m really excited to contribute to the rowing community here.”

He will be moving his family to Wānaka and two of his children will start at Mount Aspiring College next year.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App