Police band to sing out on violence

Who'll stop the pain?

Seven Manawatu police officers will try answer this question when they play a rejigged version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's classic "Who'll Stop the Rain?" at a White Ribbon concert in Feilding.

The police band, which features officers from Palmerston North, Feilding and Ashhurst, is playing a one-off concert to raise awareness about domestic violence in Manawatu.

The band is the brainchild of Feilding Senior Constable John Samuela, who will play guitar and sing back-up vocals.

Twelve years ago, Mr Samuela was in another police band called Two Fish and a Scoop with Ashhurst senior constable and drummer Mark Glentworth and Feilding detective and vocalist Grant Lawton, who will both perform in the new band.

Three officers have pulled out of the new band, including singing detective Dave Wishnowsky – the lead vocalist for popular Palmerston North cover band Revival Corporation – but taking over as frontman will be Central District search and rescue boss, Sergeant Bill Nicholson.

Rounding out the group are senior constables Rowan Gledhill and Dave Andrews, both guitarists from the forensics department, and Constable Dean Olsen, the Central District training instructor, on bass.

Mr Samuela said the revised lyrics for "Who'll Stop the Pain?" fitted perfectly with the band's message.

"We are doing it to support the White Ribbon Day. It's about stopping family violence, which is something all of us have had to deal with during our careers."

The way police handled family violence today was a vast improvement from when Mr Samuela first started policing in the 1980s.

"In those days, if a victim said they didn't want to make a complaint, that was it. Now we are quite happy to take the blame and say 'we'll deal with it'."

The band, which does not yet have a name, will play four or five songs of mostly seventies fare, such as The Eagles' Tequila Sunrise, America's Horse With No Name, Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd and Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash.

The first practice took place last Tuesday, followed by another yesterday, but more were planned for this week.

"Some of us will be able to wing it but for most of them it's the first time they've performed," Mr Samuela said.

"We are gonna go hard out this week to get ready ... so we don't embarrass ourselves."

Mr Samuela hoped to get more officers and other organisations involved in the band in the future.

The band will play at Feilding's Manchester Square on Friday with a host of other speakers and entertainers, including Feilding Intermediate bands and a Maori performance group. The event starts at 11am.

Palmerston North police will mark White Ribbon Day by releasing 300 white balloons into the air on Wednesday. The 300 balloons, which represent the number of family violence incidents Manawatu police attend every two months, will be released in The Square at 12.30pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News