Sick police officers paid out

By NATASHA HARRIS

Two police officers received confidential compensation payouts after contracting legionnaires disease in the Counties Manukau headquarters.

The Herald has learned police paid out the officers last year because of the way their concerns had been dismissed.

The news comes as police evacuate Harlech House in Otahuhu to replace the air-conditioning cooling tower thought to be responsible for spreading the potentially fatal bacterial disease.

About 200 police staff will be transferred to stations mainly in South Auckland for the estimated two months it will take for health officials to investigate.

A total of six staff are confirmed to have the disease, which first caused problems in 2000, but a further four people may have contracted it.

Police Association vice-president Richard Middleton said association members were grateful that something was finally being done about the safety of staff.

"We're very grateful that the decision has finally been made to replace the water cooling tower, which has been the source of legionnaires.

"Our members are very pleased about the decision but they're disappointed it took so long."

He said the two officers who received the confidential settlement sued police for denying that they had caught legionnaires disease, that the building had caused the sickness and for not notifying other staff about the disease.

Other details about the lawsuit could not be revealed but Superintendent Ted Cox said it might have had something to do with other staff members being "dismissive" of their sickness.

"We have had a big focus on it since the first case was detected in 2000. Right the way through their concerns were treated seriously by management.

"The advice we were given by Occupational Safety and Health and other health experts was followed."

By evacuating the station, he said, police had done the best they could as the safety of staff could not be guaranteed.

Work would not be disrupted, Mr Cox said.

"There will be a bit of discomfort for a little while for a few of the staff as they will be a bit cramped in other busy stations, but frontline staff won't be affected at all as a lot of the units here are administrative and support units."