Double task for veteran police chief

By PATRICK GOWER

A 31-year police veteran who started his career as a constable in Kawerau is leading the inquiries into New Zealand's two highest-profile crimes.

Detective Superintendent Larry Reid is in charge of about 260 police in their race to find baby Kahu and the killer of Lower Hutt woman Kate Alkema.

Previously the Kapiti-Mana area controller, he also has been the New Zealand police liaison officer in Sydney and, before that, a long-serving detective-inspector in the Hutt Valley.

One of the country's three regional crime heads for nearly two years, he presides over the central district. His office is in Wellington and he reports to the Office of the Commissioner.

Mr Reid's troubleshooting role is considered one of the best jobs in the police because of its mix of investigation, operations and politics.

He was one of the first of a growing number of officers to gain business qualifications. He graduated as Master of Business Administration from Massey University,in 1993.

Mr Reid, who is half-Tongan, half-Pakeha and whose wife is Maori, once said: "I live in three different worlds".

He was one of the New Zealand detectives to go to Fiji two years ago to help police there with their post-coup investigations.

He was called on, as a detective superintendent, to interview relatives of the woman at the centre of teenage-sex claims against MP Dover Samuels. And he led an internal inquiry into Whangarei police practices late last year.

Full coverage: Baby Kahu kidnapping

Description of suspect

Picture: Kahurautete Durie

Picture: Kahurautete's clothing

Picture: the car being sought by police

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