Police officer proposes to his boyfriend at officer graduation ceremony
A police officer in New Zealand surprised his boyfriend – by popping the question to him while graduating from the police academy.
Constable Erik Meechan, of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, took the opportunity during his graduation from training to surprise partner Matty Judd.
Judd attended the ceremony along with the couple’s family and friends, thinking he was there to cheer his boyfriend of five years.
Constable Erik Meechan and Matty Judd (NZ Police)
But he looked stunned as Meechan interrupted proceedings to ask him to step forward.
Meechan then dropped to one knee and proposed. Judd said yes, to cheers from the crowd – including Police Commissioner Mike Bush and Police Minister Stuart Nash, who were among the first to offer their congratulations.
The newly-graduated police officer said: “I just wanted it to be a bit special, a bit different. That’s a goal achieved.
“My usual style would be to have done it at home while we were watching a movie or something but graduation is a very special event that means a lot to us.”
Judd added: “We’ve talked about it for a while but it’s one of those things that will always be a surprise.
“He’s normally very reserved – I’m much more likely to do something extravagant.
“I think he wanted to do something extravagant that I would appreciate. And I did!”
Meechan said he was more nervous about making a speech than popping the question.
Erik Meechan proposes to Matty Judd (NZ Police)
He quipped: “I thought if I was going to make a speech, I might as well go for it.”
Commissioner Bush said the proposal says the proposal showed how Police culture has “embraced the diversity of modern New Zealand.”
He said: “It was just awesome.
“The fact that Erik felt so safe and supported in that environment was a fantastic demonstration of what our core value of Valuing Diversity is all about.
“I wish Eric and Matty all the very best for the future.”
Check out a clip below via New Zealand Police:
In 2016 a police officer in London went viral after proposing to his partner during the Pride in London parade.
The clips of the proposals went viral around the world, but sadly some people took a moment of love and reacted with hate.
PC Adlem said that he was taken aback by a tidal wave of hostility after the clip went viral.
The pair were on the receiving end of hundreds of abusive messages, many of them deeply homophobic and insulting.
