Snr Sgt Grindell (51), formerly of Dunedin, has been a member of the police since 1976 and took charge of Wanaka's police station at the end of January.
He said his induction to the community and the station had gone smoothly.
When he took his boat to Wanaka Marine to be serviced by Ian Brown, the Upper Clutha Rugby Club coach, he was immediately shoulder-tapped to be the new manager of the senior rugby team.
The veteran of three Ironman races has also been talked into competing in next year's Challenge Wanaka triathlon festival by his Wanaka police colleagues.
Snr Sgt Grindell said in an interview he used to play senior level rugby in Dunedin in the 1980s and was looking forward to meeting the Wanaka club.
"I haven't had a chance to be involved but, after next weekend, I will be able to give my time more fully to them," he said.
He thought he might take part in Wanaka's long-distance triathlon next year as a team member, or attempt the half-ironman - "if my knees hold together".
"That's the thing about rugby. The past comes back to haunt you," he said.
Snr Sgt Grindell's goals for the Wanaka station are to build community relationships, maintain a visible police presence on the street and in rural areas, and be accessible.
The appointment of a senior sergeant means Wanaka is now regarded as a "sub-area" within the police southern district, putting it on a par with Queenstown.
Snr Sgt Grindell reports directly to Central Otago officer-in-charge Snr Sgt Mike Cook.
New staff have lifted the number of sworn staff to 15, supported by one non-sworn staff member.
However, Snr Sgt Grindell said the increased staffing levels would not be noticed for some time as he tries to clear the backlog of annual leave accumulated by officers.
Constable Greg Nolet transferred from Christchurch to Wanaka last week and two more officers - a male and a female - will transfer from Auckland to Wanaka at the end of April.
A new recruit - a male officer - has also been appointed to Wanaka and arrives next month.
The jobs of rural liaison officer and Wanaka community constable are being advertised and would likely be filled soon by existing Wanaka station officers.
Const Phil Vink recently accepted a youth aid/education role for the town, he said.
Snr Sgt Grindell said he hoped the station would be at its full complement of staff by early May, around the same time a new building at the back of the station should be completed.
Plans for the 35sq m building at the overcrowded station have been lodged for approval by Queenstown Lakes District Council planning body Lakes Environmental.
The new $55,000 building is a temporary solution while the New Zealand police headquarters continues to work on a treasury-approved $44.5 million proposal for five new stations, including one in Wanaka.
Snr Sgt Grindell said more patrol cars should also be assigned to Wanaka because the station did not have enough.
He said he was enjoying his new role very much and looking forward to getting to know the community.
"We want to be visible and accessible.
"By doing that, we will start to get the feedback from people about what worries them . . . It is about working with the community to make the place safer.
"Police can't do anything like that by themselves," he said.
