Mr Pinkham also led the investigation into the street shooting of Hastings policeman Glenn McKibbin and a manhunt which lasted 65 days. The gunman Terence Thompson was shot by police after refusing to surrender in an orchard near Havelock North.
But, he is best known for the David Bain and Sophie Elliott cases.
The David Bain verdict did not go his way, but he did have the satisfaction of seeing Clayton Weatherston sent to jail for the brutal slaying of Sophie Elliott.
One thing that will probably bug Mr Pinkham as he heads into retirement is that he was never able to solve the mystery of the 1983 disappearance and suspected murder of Napier schoolgirl Kirsa Jensen.
He still holds out hope that she will be found. Let's hope he is able to have closure on that one soon.
He was a good old-fashioned cop and judging by the way some recent high-profile cases have gone, maybe the police need more detectives of his calibre.
Our front page profile on Mr Pinkham in yesterday's paper was interesting, because it showed just how much he accomplished as a policeman.
There were also some lighter moments on the job. He was one of the policemen on 1981 Springbok tour duty when the Springboks snatched a 12-all draw with the New Zealand Maori team.
The Springbok midfielder Colin Beck kicked a drop goal to level the score. Many people, including Mr Pinkham, believe it missed.
To this day he is adamant - "It didn't go over."
It reminded me of that famous quote from the New Zealand Maori captain Billy Bush, who was later asked who had won the match.
His reply: "We did, 12-all."
