Letters: Darren Critchley more than a momentary hero

Kaitaia PD. Darren Critchley has earned praise from a local reader.

A few years ago I reported a theft to the Kaitaia PD. Darren Critchley was assigned my complaint. He came to my farm and interviewed a tenant, who named the thief.

When Darren interviewed the accused, he was uncooperative, requiring Darren to build a case. He asked me to remain supportive, since his work would be wasted if I rolled over.

The tenant, who was the witness, has moved to Whangarei but was willing to come back for the trial. When we finally got to court, and we were waiting for the charges to be read, I had to leave. My cancer was playing up so I found a drinking fountain. I was clutching on to it and bent over when I felt Darren lifting me up.

He asked if I could go on. I told him I would be back in if I had to crawl.

After the charges the defendant pleaded guilty. Darren gave me a high five.

The witness later wrote, thanking me for providing him a place to live when he and his daughter were homeless (but that's another story). Most surprising, the thief, at $10/ month, finally repaid the aggrieved amount.

Darren is more than a hero-of-the-moment. He is a dogged defender of our community, who only asks complainants to stay strong.

MIKE WARD
Mangonui