Being a police officer can be a difficult job, but there are several across the country who have done an absolutely pawesome job.
Four particularly brave officers have managed to claw their way out of obscurity and into the public eye.
You could say they're the cat's meow.
Toby from Kapiti Police
Toby overcame a rough start to become one of the New Zealand Police's top officers.
"Before joining, I was living on the streets and tiny because I didn't have food," Toby told Newshub.
"I never had plans to join, but I was rescued by a nice police officer in Kapiti and it really inspired me to be able to help others, and it all went from there!"
His new life now involves patrolling rural areas and keeping an eye out for anyone who needs help.
"I've gone into field intelligence and spend most of my days scouring bushes, beaches and paddocks looking for any suspicious activity," he meowed.
"It's quite flexible so I manage to spend some time at the beach or with the horses down the road which is definitely a perk."
However there are challenging parts to the job. He has less time for cat naps now and dogs are still a work in progress (Toby said they "take all the credit").
But he's happy with his new role and his contribution to society, even with the shift work and late nights.
"My life has completely turned around now, I've built up a lot of strength and fitness, I've got some stability in my life and I've met some great people," he said.
"My parents both work for police so they're really understanding of me being out most nights and coming home late, often waking them up!"
And he urges people to take the work police cats do seriously.
"We do a lot of important work within police and the wider community too."
Senior Constable Snickers from Whangapāraoa Police
Senior Constable Snickers claims to be a "working police officer", based out of the Whangapāraoa Police Station.
Named after the chocolate bar, he's the highest-ranked police cat in New Zealand. He got his start after getting delivered to the station as a youth.
Snickers is known for his community policing approach, which involves frequent disappearances from the station when he instead ventures into the community.
"I am always on PAWtrol 24/7 and also assist the police with victims when they visit my station giving them cuddles. I am part of the SNAP squad (Sensitive New Age Police)," Snickers told Newshub.
Newshub asked Snr Const Snickers if they an interesting story about working for the police, and he revealed an embarrassing moment.
"I once got kicked out of the picture theatre up in Whangapāraoa while on patrol, as people were getting alarmed that something was brushing up against their legs," he purrs.
"I was only trying to keep their jaffas safe."
Tia from Wellington Central Police
Feline crime-fighter Tia works at the Wellington Central Police Station, helping sniff out mice and criminals.
"This is my lovely cat Tia. She's at work with me today, helping do some police work," a senior constable said, introducing the hero.
"Hopefully she'll sniff some stuff out for us today."
A video posted to Facebook shows the fluffy animal dressed in a little police vest, assisting cops by conducting an investigation of various office areas.
After a careful scene examination, Tia goes outside where she takes a vantage point on top of a police car - the best place to spot any criminal behaviour.
When Tia's patrol is over, she settles in for a snooze on an office chair.
"Tia generally only works half-hour shifts, she's going to go have her cat-nap," her handler said.
A welcome reward for a brave cat helping protect the New Zealand public.
Molly from Manuwera Police
Police officers are used to saving lives - but most are probably not as adorable as this one.
Constable Gaylene Rice heard meowing coming from the car park at the Manurewa police station on Halver Rd in 2016.
As she approached the clothing bin the meowing became louder, and upon closer inspection she found a tiny kitten wrapped in a cardigan dumped in front of the bin.
- Kitten finds new home at Manurewa police station
- Police kitten Molly gets comfortable at the station
The officers at the station have dubbed her Manurewa Molly, and the tiny kitten quickly became the most popular member of the police station's staff.
Newshub.
