Editorial: Policeman's lot a happy one

Good sense has prevailed in the case of the country constable charged with drink-driving after he drove his police vehicle to the scene of a fatal crash. Other factors muddied the incident, but the action of Jonathan Erwood, the sole-charge officer in the small Taranaki town of Mokau, was undeniably in the interests of that community. His discharge without conviction is a common-sense recognition of this.

As Judge Louis Bidois noted, Mr Erwood, who was off-duty, was confronted with an emergency and had to make a snap decision. He had the only oxygen tanks available, and a serious accident was only a short distance away. His highly commendable instinct was to help, even though his career could be jeopardised.

The incident confirmed the shades of grey that are the lot of the country police officer. The fact that one of those killed in the double-fatality had earlier been drinking with Mr Erwood may have darkened the hue in some minds. But this was unrelated to his decision to rush to the accident.

Mr Erwood is still the subject of an internal police disciplinary investigation. But Judge Bidois' finding and clear-sighted comments can hardly be ignored by that inquiry. Once Mr Erwood failed a breath test, the police may have had little option but to prosecute. But having discharged that duty, they now have every reason to allow a committed officer to resume his.