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A 32-year-old man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court today charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Porirua police Sergeant Derek Wootton.
Sergeant Wootton, 52, was hit by a stolen car after a pursuit in Titahi Bay, near Wellington, about 3am.
Police and ambulance officers were unable to revive him and he died at the scene of the crash on Dimock St, near the Downes St intersection.
The 32-year-old man charged over Mr Wootton's death was granted name suppression when he appeared in Porirua District Court this morning.
He was charged with dangerous driving and dangerous driving causing death as well as failing to stop after a motor accident.
The man was also charged with aggravated robbery, relating to an assault in and the theft of a Honda Prelude car in Tawa this morning, and kidnapping a 16-year-old youth, who was the second person in the car.
He was remanded in custody to July 16.
Colleagues 'devastated'
Kapiti Mana area commander Inspector John Spence said Mr Wootton's death had "devastated" colleagues.
Wellington district commander Superintendent Pieri Munro said Mr Wootton's death was a huge loss to his family, friends and colleagues.
"It's a very sobering time for all police but we are part of a respected professional service. Our staff are grieving but Derek's tragic death is not stopping us from fulfilling our job of policing our communities," he said.
There was a ceremony at the site of the tragedy this morning led by a police chaplain attended by members of the Porirua police station team.
Porirua Mayor Jenny Brash expressed sympathy for the family of the dead officer and the whole police force as did politicians, including Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said Mr Wootton's death showed how risky the job was.
"Inherently there are risks involved in the job and this brings it home," Mr O'Connor said.
He said in the last few years there had been a big change in the attitude of some people towards the police.
"More and more people are prepared to have a go. They wouldn't have in the past. That is the big change in policing," he said.
Police earlier said the black Honda Prelude that hit Mr Wootton had been stolen in an aggravated robbery and was later seen at Titahi Bay.
"Some spikes were laid for the vehicle to stop it and one of our police officers was struck in that context and died at the scene," Superintendent Pieri Munro said.
Police were appealing for witnesses who may have seen the car being driven around the Elsdon and Titahi Bay areas.
"It appears that there might have been a bank robbery involving that vehicle. Beyond that we are still confirming the details," he said.
Police have cordoned off the scene of the crash and serious crash investigators were present.
The Coroner and Independent Police Conduct Authority will look into Mr Wootton's death.
Witness reports
Witnesses earlier described hearing cars travelling at high speed before the crash in which Mr Wootton was killed.
The crash woke local garage owner Alex Johnston.
"I heard all the commotion going on, they must have flown around the corner at the top there and smacked into the island. It was just seconds after that and it was another 400m up the road where it happened," Mr Johnston said.
He said after the crash, people came out on to the street and there were a lot of sirens.
"Obviously something big was going on, it wasn't something run-of-the-mill," Mr Johnston said.
He said he had a few friends in the police, some of whom had been customers for years.
"I've got a few customers who are police and I've gotten quite friendly with them. No one knows who it is but we'll just wait and see from here," Mr Johnston said.
Local resident Lea Hardie was watching a late night movie when she heard two cars travelling at speed past her house.
"I heard the car and thought: Oh my gosh, it's going to have an accident," Ms Hardie said.
She said it sounded as though the two cars were on a racing circuit and passed her house more than once.
Ms Hardie said locals had signed a petition to have the speed limit lowered because there had been racing in the area.
A worker at a local child care centre also said the local community had been asking the council to drop the speed limit on the road.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said the death of the police officer was "very sad, very, very, very sad".
She said despite traffic islands and speed bumps, cars still travelled at high speeds in the area, which had two child care centres and four schools.
Police are asking anyone who saw the crash to call them on 04 238 1400.
- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF
