Paul joined the New Zealand Police in 1976 and has worked in both frontline and investigative roles. During this time, he also served on both the Armed Offender Squad and the Anti-Terrorist Squad (Special Tactics Group). He was Area Commander for 15 years in Far North, Hamilton City and Western Waikato. Both the Far North and Western Waikato Policing areas were a mix of Rural and Urban policing.
Paul is currently the Strategic Advisor to Deputy Commissioner: Operations a national role providing support and advise to all 12 Police Districts and the Investigations Group
In March 2021, the Deputy Commissioner: Operations commissioned the Rural Policing Enhancement (RPE) Project to ensure rural policing is fit for purpose and responsive to changing rural needs, and to improve how we enable and equip our rural officers. The project was designed to enhance and support existing practices by clarifying, defining, and agreeing our operating model.
Inspector Carpenter was the Project Lead and in March this year the new Rural Policing Operating model was released. It is not introducing an entirely new way of working. The enhancements will be relevant to and will support policing in all small communities and have implications for the wider organisation.