Face of the Day

After nearly a decade as the voice of New Zealand’s police officers, police union boss Chris Cahill is stepping down – and South Island sergeant Steve Watt is stepping up.

From the Christchurch mosque attacks to the deaths of frontline officers and Covid-19, Cahill has led 13,500 police staff through some of the toughest years the thin blue line has faced so far.

And on Wednesday afternoon, at the Police Association’s annual conference in Wellington, he handed over the reins to Watt, a frontline sergeant who has previously vowed to make officer safety his top priority.

Watt, a 25-year veteran of the force based in Queenstown, has spent most of his career on the frontline. He’s previously said his focus as president will be improving officer safety, ensuring adequate resources, and addressing risks faced by staff in the line of duty.

Watt is expected to move to Wellington in the coming weeks to formally take up the role.

The Post