Farewell to a good and faithful servant

Trevor and Danielle Beatson, about to embark on life after the police.

Trevor Beatson was described by one of his former Rotorua colleagues as a good scrapper and a fine investigator.

Others acknowledged his dry sense of humour, his commitment to his faith, his family and his job. And all clearly regarded him as a good friend.

Far North Area commander Ricky Whiu summed it up when he described Mr Beatson, who officially ended his 21-year police career on Saturday night, as a good and faithful servant of Te Hiku.

Mr Beatson was farewelled by friends and colleagues at a function in Kaitaia, where Detective Sergeant Rhys Johnston credited him with helping put Crown solicitor Mike Smith's children through school.

His exploits in the courtroom, and the work that preceded those trials, he added, would be remembered.

Detective Sergeant Mark Dalzell said Mr Beatson had earned a great deal of respect for the way in which he had done his job and balanced his professional and personal commitments, which had not always been easy.

All he still needed to learn was that snapper were discussed in pounds, not centimetres.

His sister Donna said he had been a delight to grow up with, and even as a child had displayed a big heart and a commitment to service.

Crown prosecutor Bernadette O'Connor thanked Mrs Beatson for "supplying" her husband for some lengthy trials.

His dry, deadpan sense of humour had been a real strength for a man who was widely respected and apparently unflappable, qualities that had helped immensely in successfully completing a trial.

"You so believe in what you do. You believe in people and you believe in justice," she said.

"You are one of those who embody the police. You are trusted by the public, who know you are working for them."

While he was retiring from the police, however, Mr Beatson and his family have no plans to leave Kaitaia.

On Monday he began a new career, as national operations manager for Dr Lance and Tracy O'Sullivan's iMOKO foundation.

Dr O'Sullivan said the families' relationship extended back to Rotorua, where Mr Beatson began his police career.

The retirement cake, complete with some subtle reminders of a policeman's stock in trade.

When the Beatsons moved north they urged the O'Sullivans to follow them, and they did.

"This is an exciting opportunity to make use of his natural skills and what he has learned from 21 years in the police, and an opportunity for me to work with a very good friend," Dr O'Sullivan said.

"He is a dedicated servant and a leader in the police and his church. He is just an awesome guy."

Mr Beatson said he was leaving the police in a "really good space", but the time to make a change had come.

His police colleagues in Kaitaia were doing a great job, he added; the community was well served.

He also thanked his "awesome" wife for her support.

"You can't do a job like this without really good support at home, and I have always had that," he said.