Joining Police was never in the plans for a young Paul Carpenter. Luckily, plans change.
While policing wasn’t the first choice for the then 17-year-old, it was clearly the right choice as the award of the Police Meritorious Service Medal shows.
The award is the highest honour a Police Commissioner can bestow. Inspector Paul Carpenter - better known at Chippy - is only the 28th recipient in the decade since it was introduced.
It’s a reflection of outstanding service over 49 years in a range of policing roles and across some of New Zealand’s most memorable events. Chippy is currently the strategic advisor for Frontline Operations.
“I’ve never looked back," he says. "It’s just been an amazing journey all the way through.
"Policing has to be the most rewarding job you can imagine and a lot of that has to do with the people you work with, the teams you're involved in, the people you help and the service we provide.”
News of his MSM recognition came at the end of last year, just days after his mother passed away. It was a bittersweet and overwhelming coincidence.
The award was presented earlier this year. “It is very humbling and a big surprise.”
For Chippy, it’s also recognition for his family, who he says got him to where he is today.
With 49 years' service under his belt, Chippy has held roles stretched across operational and, more recently, strategic work. He’s spent time across frontline, AOS and worked across a range of districts, including as an area commander in Northland and Waikato.
He has been involved in an array of high-profile events that now hold their place in our history books.
“Bastion Point, the Rainbow Warrior bombing, Springbok Tour, Aramoana, Pike River… a lot of the things I’ve been involved with have become movies.”
This week, he’ll attend the reunion marking the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Warrior bombing and investigation.
“We solved that crime with no modern technology. There were no mobile phones or computers - we had a fax machine that was just brought in.
"We solved an international terrorism crime, through outstanding investigative work and the support of a lot of nosy New Zealanders who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. It was just amazing, like bringing a jigsaw together.
“I think I worked nine months on that. I’d only just joined the CIB.”
More recently, on the day of the Christchurch terror attacks he was in Christchurch at the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct when the horror of the attack unfolded. He spent the next three weeks on the operation.
He says he always really enjoyed the operational aspect of policing, from emergency responses to CIB investigations.
"I always used to say to the young staff to go and do a stint in CIB because the learnings and experience you get through that just set you up and support you through the rest of your career.”
The attitude of wanting to experience as much of policing as he could has seen Chippy through his varied career and, in more recent times, supporting the Police Executive in a more strategic and advisory role.
Police is an organisation he’s been incredibly proud to be part of and still is, feeling there’s still more to offer even after 49 years.
“It’s been an amazing journey. I’ve got to see all of the country, a lot of Australia, Afghanistan and America. There is no other organisation within New Zealand that can offer such variety and span.
"No two days are the same. If you’re getting bored, then something is wrong.”
Chippy says he’s always been incredibly proud to be a police officer and gaining the MSM is another proud moment, not just for him but for his family who’ve supported him every step of the way.
“They have got me to where I am today, so it’s nice for them to have that recognition as well. I remember the times of AOS and CIB with all the callouts and serious crime that really took you away from your family a lot...
"As you got along you realise you couldn’t have done it without that support at home.”
Chippy was presented with his MSM in April by Commissioner Richard Chambers, the 15th Commissioner he's worked under.