The New Zealand Police Association also revealed a request has been made for six more staff in Wanaka (four front-line officers, one non-sworn staff member and a second sergeant).
A decision will be made by the police executive during next month's third and final allocation of 1250 extra officers promised at the last election.
Wanaka's top cop, Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Blackie of Alexandra, yesterday declined to discuss the police association's revelation or comment on allocations until the Southern district police commander George Fraser - who is on the police executive - announces the final decision.
However, he confirmed Superintendent Fraser had already approved one new front-line officer for Wanaka, outside any allocations that may be made next month.
When that appointment is made, hopefully next month, the number of sworn officers in Wanaka will rise to 10: a sergeant, a detective, a traffic officer and seven on the front line.
"Part of our argument for more staff is to better serve the community and to look after our staff," Det Snr Sgt Blackie said.
Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks yesterday responded enthusiastically to the initiatives.
"I didn't know they had changed their rosters. That is great news. I hope they can fill the gaps and make it safer to enforce the law," Mr Cocks said.
The community was "totally supportive" of efforts to increase police numbers and had been disappointed when most of the officers allocated to Otago in the last round went to Alexandra.
Wanaka "definitely needed more" police during the busy tourist seasons, he said.
Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said the new roster began about a month ago as a trial and was working well. It would be reviewed.
It had not compromised other duties during the week, "but it does limit leave options, which is a down-side", he said.
Police association spokeswoman Tracey Maclennan told the Otago Daily Times last week southern police were unhappy so few of the promised additional police had been posted to the front line.
Only two of the 33 staff allocated so far to the southern district could be described as true front line positions.
Wanaka got an extra investigator it did not ask for, when all it wanted was more front-line staff. Cromwell had not had an increase in front-line staff for 20 years, she said.
There had been a public and police perception the 1250 extra positions would go to general duties.
"Wanaka have put a very good business case to Mr Fraser. They've asked for quite a few staff and they've based it on analysis," she said.
Senior Sergeant Mike Cook, of Alexandra, confirmed yesterday Cromwell had six sworn police positions (three front-line). A vacancy had been filled and the appointee was due to start work next month.
Alexandra has 13 sworn officers (five on the front line). Others are in specialist positions, including criminal investigation.
The figures did not include traffic officers. Snr Sgt Cook also declined to comment on staffing allocations in the meantime.
