Drink cloud over cop hero

A hero cop who shielded an injured colleague with his body during an armed Napier siege is under investigation after an alleged drunken incident at a training course.

He has also been removed from front-line duties - a role that has him in line for a bravery commendation.

Henderson Senior Sergeant Tony Miller was sent to Police College in Wellington to undertake training for a trip overseas.

But he has been pulled from that and given a job planning for the Rugby World Cup.

A police source said Miller turned up to a formal parade after drinking. He was sent back to his room. "He got drunk the night before and fronted up to the early morning parade. He was still intoxicated and he was sent back to his room to sober up. He was given a warning."

When other officers had gone to check on him later in the day, he appeared to have been even more intoxicated.

"The next day he was dismissed from the course and sent home. As a result of that he is under investigation."

Miller is understood to be in line for a bravery award for his heroic efforts during last year's Napier siege when Jan Molenaar shot dead Senior Constable Len Snee and wounded senior constables Grant Diver and Bruce Miller after a drugs search of his house.

Miller and Constable Kevin Rooney used their bodies to shield Bruce Miller from further shots as armed police evacuated him from the scene.

"This is bizarre," the source said. "He's so good at his job."

Miller did not return calls and Waitemata District Commander Superintendent Bill Searle and Waitakere Area Commander Inspector Gary Davey refused to comment. A Waitemata police spokesman said no comment would be made.

It is understood Miller, who usually supervises a squad of front-line police, has been "seconded" to the Waitemata police Rugby World Cup planning team.

"A lot of other senior sergeants are not happy about that. It's almost like he's done something bad and been rewarded for it. There are lots of other guys that would have jumped at that job," the source said.

Trauma counsellor John Tetley said the siege would have been traumatic for Miller and would have ongoing repercussions. Post-traumatic stress disorder was common in front-line roles. Like all officers in the siege, he would need support from family, friends and police.