Police Commissioner on New Year’s Eve patrol
The country’s police boss will be patrolling the streets of Nelson on New Year’s Eve as a tribute to slain officer slain officer Lyn Fleming.
The 62-year-old was fatally injured when she and fellow Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay were struck by a vehicle while on patrol in the Buxton Square car park in the early hours of January 1 this year.
She later died in Nelson Hospital surrounded by family.
Fleming, who served in the police for more than 38 years, was the first female officer killed on the job in New Zealand.
In honour of her memory, Chambers will patrol the Nelson streets on New Year’s Eve – the same shift Fleming volunteered to do alongside her fellow officers.
“The right place for me to be on this New Year’s Eve is Nelson, alongside my colleagues who have had a tough year,” he said.
“I’ve made that decision because I know that the team down there have done it tough – we’ve all done it tough, but not as much as Lyn’s people down there in Nelson and Tasman.”
A barbecue was planned before the night shift began, and then Chambers will hit the streets with Tasman District Commander Tracy Thompson.
Chambers also revealed he had been in regular contact with Fleming’s family throughout the year, as well as the injured Ramsay.
Chambers was the Tasman district commander from 2012-14, based in Nelson, and worked with Fleming.
Paying tribute after her death, Chambers said Fleming was a calm, patient officer who could work through complex issues to make life easier for frontline staff.
“Lynn helped me with some really complex stuff back then and she was just an absolute superstar.”
Chambers said he never saw Fleming lose her cool or get frustrated, despite the volatile and provocative situations police encountered.
“Her calmness rubbed off on colleagues, particularly when it came to dealing with tough stuff.”
Chambers revealed that at the start of her last shift on New Year’s Eve, Fleming had brought in snacks for her colleagues working through the night.
“That’s typical of the way she looked after people.”
Hayden Donald Tasker, the man accused of causing Fleming’s death, has pleaded not guilty to six charges, including murder.
He will face trial in the High Court at Christchurch in May 2026.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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