Rock Retires

NZ Truth, Issue 1192, 4 October 1928, Page 6

Rock Retires

WHEN the Police Commissioner, the Mayor and all the prominent businessmen of the place assemble to say nice things about a police officer who is about to retire — well, it has to be conceded that the officer so favored must be someone well above the average. But f then Police-sergeant J. Rock, who has been m charge of the Newmarket (Auckland) district for many years past, and whose total service m the force is three decades, is decidedly "one out of the bag." That was how it came to pass on the eve of his retirement the other day that such a distinguished assembly foregathered to say nice things about him and incidentally make a presentation. There are few people who do not know the genial Sergeant Rock. He has never been known as "officious," > but "efficiency" might well be his mid- | die name. As a police officer, Rock has always combined tact and courtesy with an unswerving loyalty and a sense of duty to the force. Discretion and common-sense, arid an inherent fund of human feeling, have put him on side with 'all sections of the community— even those, .who have broken the law and Incurred his displeasure. And the result? Eulogies, kind words and public esteem. The genial sergeant has earned his leisure, and now that he ; has laid the uniform aside he will have unlimited time to tend .those wonderful roses m his garden. ■ !