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A Tauranga policeman accused of assaulting a teenager on The Strand last month will face criminal charges in court.
The alleged victim, Daniel Bull, 19, claimed an off-duty police officer grabbed him around his throat and pushed him to the ground outside the Grumpy Mole bar on The Strand on the evening of February 23.
Bay of Plenty police district commander Superintendent Gary Smith said a senior officer from Rotorua investigated the incident and recommended the officer be prosecuted.
"A recommendation has been made, and we'll be actioning that recommendation in the next few days," he said.
"What that means is ... that person's going to appear in court. We believe a criminal offence has been committed."
Mr Smith said the officer would be likely to appear in Tauranga District Court next week, although no date had been set.
The investigation into the assault was concluded within a week from when the complaint was made, he said.
Mr Smith said he was unable to comment on whether or not other officers who had been in similar situations had remained in the police after being found guilty.
"There are a whole range of things to consider and they are all employment issues. Each one of them has different aspects to be considered," he said.
