Officer's grievance claim falls flat

Photo/Wayne Drought

The Employment Court has dismissed remedies sought by a former Northland police constable for a string of alleged grievances against his bosses.

Stephen Davis, formerly based at Mangonui and Kaeo Police Stations, took the Police Commissioner first to the Employment Relations Authority then to the Employment Court claiming he was unjustifiably disadvantaged.

He now works at Christchurch Police Station.

Mr Davis first became embroiled in a dispute with his two colleagues in the three-man Mangonui Police Station over their respective interpretations of overtime worked.

A senior sergeant responsible for the station set down rules as to how overtime was to be taken and compensated for but Mr Davis didn't agree to the way the dispute was resolved.

Shortly after, he sent an email to his senior constable at the station and accused him of violence on two occasions against prisoners held in the cells, although he himself didn't witness the alleged incidents.

The relationship between the two deteriorated and Davis was seconded to Kaeo Police Station as a community constable.

Before he left, the Mangonui station's senior constable had lodged a harassment complaint against him. He was later persuaded to withdraw the grievance by a superior officer.

Problems also arose between Davis and officers based in Kaeo.

A decision was made to move him away from Northland after he began making serious allegations against senior officers in the region and also wrote to the then Minister of Police. Mr Davis was transferred to Christchurch and appointed to the Traffic Alcohol Group (TAG) team. His supervising sergeant began noticing minor performance issues within a short time of his arrival and Mr Davis undertook a performance improvement plan. He then began complaining to his senior sergeant that his supervising sergeant discriminated against him and other minor matters such as favourable treatment being given to other officers in the allocation of vehicles, lateness to meetings, and being allowed to eat food at meetings.

He also complained that officers were allowed to watch the Rugby World Cup final during their shifts.

Employment Court judge Mark Perkins said Mr Davis appeared to believe, without any solid foundation, that all those who have been involved from his employer's side were dishonest and corrupt.

"Trivial incidents have been blown out of proportion and accusations have been made by Mr Davis without any proper basis," Judge Perkins said in dismissing his claim for unjustified disadvantage.