KEY POINTS:
A Rotorua ambulance officer has been stood down by St John after being implicated in the controversy over group sex sessions involving former police officers.
Bill McNeilly, a 39-year-old father of two, was interviewed last week by the Operation Austin team investigating claims of police misconduct and on Friday was suspended by Midlands St John after his name emerged during inquiries into the release of a videotape showing ex-policemen having group sex.
McNeilly is the partner of 37-year-old Debbie Gerbich, the Tauranga woman and ex-bodybuilder caught on camera engaging in group sex with former police officer Brad Shipton. Gerbich's ex-husband, former Tauranga detective sergeant Warren Gerbich, is also on the tape along with a fourth man, also believed to be a former police officer. The hour-long videotape, shot in 2001, is now the subject of a police investigation. Debbie Gerbich - who until now has only been known as "Mary" - claimed handcuffs and batons were used by serving officers during group sex sessions until 2002, and that a serving officer indulged in a rape role-play. At the time the video was made the Gerbichs were heavily involved in the swingers network in Tauranga.
McNeilly does not feature in the videotape made public last week, but it is understood he had some involvement in other group sex sessions.
McNeilly and Debbie Gerbich refused Herald on Sunday requests for an interview.
But Warren Gerbich, who now runs a home-heating business in Tauranga, confirmed he was one of those on the tape.
However, he defended his actions telling the Herald on Sunday: "Consenting adults should be allowed to do what they like in the privacy of their own home."
Gerbich was the police officer who headed the unsolved inquiry into the disappearance of 25-year-old LaVerne Williams, who vanished from her home in Gate Pa on June 5, 1986. He had left the police before the sex tape was filmed.
Midland St John chief executive Eddie Jackson said the service was aware a staff member had been questioned by police and confirmed that person had now been stood down by St John pending further details of the police probe and any internal investigation.
"St John takes a very serious view of the allegations but is unable to comment further while the matter is under investigation," he said. "However, we can say that St John takes the welfare of all of our staff, volunteers and the public seriously. We can assure the public that we have robust policies in place to ensure the welfare of our staff, volunteers and the public."
Debbie Gerbich and McNeilly have been partners for several years and share custody of McNeilly's two children. The couple met in 2001 through the sport of competitive bodybuilding and later became friends.
At the time Debbie Gerbich was known as Debbie Seath and with her husband ran Tauranga gymn Bay Bodyfit. A year later Seath and Gerbich married in a public ceremony won in a radio competition.
They sold Bay Bodyfit and opened a nutrition and consultancy business but were forced to shut after a series of financial problems. The marriage ended soon after and Debbie Gerbich took up with McNeilly.
McNeilly had been working for Rotorua St John as a paramedic and Debbie Gerbich was keen to follow in her partner's footsteps. She applied to become a volunteer.
However, the Herald on Sunday believes that following a series of complaints about her conduct, she was forced to resign in 2004. She made several attempts to be reinstated, but all were unsuccessful.
Since then Debbie Gerbich and McNeilly have struggled financially, with McNeilly having to commute daily from the couple's Gate Pa home to his job in Rotorua and Debbie Gerbich still involved in legal battles with her ex-husband.
Operation Austin spokesman Win Vandervelde confirmed yesterday inquiries were being carried out by police into the tape but said he could not comment further.
