In an email leaked to the Herald, Waikato's top cop Bruce Bird, above, says he was acting "as a father" when he interfered with the arrest of his daughter. Photo / File
In an email leaked to the Herald, Waikato's top cop Bruce Bird, above, says he was acting "as a father" when he interfered with the arrest of his daughter. Photo / File
The Waikato's most senior policeman says he was "speaking as a father" and not a policeman when he interfered with the arrest of his daughter.
Waikato police Superintendent Bruce Bird is currently the subject of an Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation after his actions in January this year when he tried to stop his daughter from being arrested.
A senior officer involved quit soon after but police deny he left because of the incident.
In an internal email leaked to the Herald, Bird addressed staff last week by saying he was the "focus of media attention".
"Can I say the full circumstances of what occurred has not been reported. I responded to a call from a senior member about my daughter. I declared immediately that I was speaking as a father and made some submissions on her behalf.
The leaked email Waikato police Superintendent Bruce Bird sent to his staff last week, explaining why he has been at the centre of attention by the Herald.
"I did not did not [sic] handle the call well and in hindsight I accept I placed that member in an invidious position."
He ended the email by stating he accepted that "people like me come under the spotlight".
"Unfortunately, it is rarely for the great stuff you do."
When questioned about the email and whether officers of Bird's rank are allowed to "make submissions" when their children are arrested, a police spokeswoman said the "Police Code of Conduct applies to all staff, regardless of their rank or position".
A police spokeswoman confirmed Bird wasn't stood down due to the nature of the complaint.
"As we have previously stated we take any complaint about a member of staff seriously, and any steps taken is always dependent on the specific nature of each matter."
Bird was put through an internal investigation in which he apologised to the officer involved.
The IPCA today confirmed it is still finalising its draft findings.
Police said Bird accepted that he "made an error of judgment" in relation to the phone call. However, they deny that any officer had left police because of the incident.
A request by the Herald to speak to Bird was declined.
Later this month, Bird will begin another stint in a temporary assistant commissioner role in Wellington, possibly for up to a year. Superintendent Steve Kehoe will take over Bird's post based in Hamilton.
The Wellington role comes on the back of a job of overseeing the police operation for the British and Irish Lions tour.
