He was also isolated from his colleagues, to the point that his direct boss ignored his calls for backup when attending a fatal car crash in which two Korean tourists died after going over a bridge, into the Wanganui River on the West Coast.
In a letter sent to his lawyer, the police said Woodward had breached confidential settlement agreements from 2014 and 2017.
"Your client, John Woodward, has been speaking with the media (Ben Strang of RNZ) regarding his employment with Police," the letter reads.
The letter states that under the agreement, both parties agreed to only talk positively or in a neutral manner when speaking about each other to third parties.
Members of the Armed Offenders Squad put on a public display last year. Photo / File / George Novak
It was also agreed that all matters relating to Woodward's employment would remain confidential.
"On the basis of the information Ben Strang has provided to Police, and the video interview that appeared on RNZ website, Police is of the view that John has breached the terms of settlement referred to above (as well as those in his 2014 settlement agreement)," the letter continues.
"At this stage, Police intends to uphold its obligations under the settlement agreement and requires that John does so to.
"Police asks that John consider remedying the apparent breaches to date."
Woodward accepts he has breached his settlement, but said he still loves the police and wants the best for serving officers.
He said it's worth speaking out about bullying if it causes a culture change.
"We can't get our heads around it," Woodward said.
"They do it so quickly. We expected it, but the thing for us, to do it so soon, it's another form of bullying in itself.
"I've got nothing bad to say about the police itself. I love the police and still always have. I've just got plenty to say about the culture and the bullying in the police. That's not the organisation as a whole.
"It's laughable. They should be ashamed of themselves."
Police deputy chief executive Kaye Ryan said the organisation thought it had settled its issues with Woodward.
"Police are considering their legal options in regards to this matter, as a settlement agreement had been reached with Woodward, and we believe the terms of that agreement have been breached," Ryan said in a statement.
"However, police are also cognisant of wanting to do the right thing. Police genuinely felt that they had settled the issues in relation to Woodward's employment."
Louise Nicholas, whose complaints of sexual misconduct in the police sparked the 2007 commission of inquiry into police conduct, backed Woodward and said the police need to think about what they are doing.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush says a review will look into how bullying complaints are dealt with by the police. Photo / Jason Oxenham
"They're wanting 1800 more police officers. You're not going to get them if this issue is continuing and they're not going to look at it."
The police review was announced on Tuesday morning.
Mike Bush said the review would look into how complaints of bullying are dealt with through the police systems and processes.
It will be led by independent consultant Debbie Francis, who led the review into harassment and bullying at Parliament.
The former armed offenders squad officer said the review is a good start, but the police culture needs change.
That is backed by the president of the police association, Chris Cahill, who said the police the review should look at the culture as well as the complaints systems.
