KEY POINTS:
I am a serving police officer. This has the most depressing year in my five years in the police, we seem to be in the papers from one week to the next.
It is very hard to take the public response to this report as I have never seen a "sick" or "rape" culture in the police. I have never seen the department cover up anything, in fact I have seen the opposite.
I and all of my workmates are absolutely disgusted at what some of these so called police officers are alleged to have done since all these allegations and Court trials commenced.
It breaks my heart to see how something I am so proud of being a part of is being trampled by the sins of a few disgraceful officers 20 years ago who would of done a better job if they have never joined the police.
As a result of the recent media blitz and what will most likely be strengthened by this report, I am now constantly confronted with a barrage of abuse relating to being a rapist while I am trying to do my job.
It is especially hard for the younger generation of Police Officers like myself who joined a long time after these allegations are stated to have occurred.
We find it very difficult to deal with it as we have had nothing to do with this. The public reaction, low morale and decreasing respect has caused a lot of very good officers that I have known who stop a lot of crime to leave the Police.
The biggest people who win from this are the criminals, at a time when recorded crime is sky rocketing they will be laughing all the way to their next burglary or clandestine P lab as Police attention is again being focused on other things than core Policing.
I do appreciate that an apology is needed from what happened historically, especially in relation to the cover-ups in the 1980s.
I do imagine that if the media, politicians and accusers of Police knew what it was like to walk in our shoes today, and how different we are today, they would be ashamed of how quickly they are to jump on and condemn us for something most of us were never a part of and only found out about it the same way as you did.
We work very hard, frequently doing huge amounts of overtime for no extra pay to keep the community safe. Please don't lose faith in us, without you supporting us we are nothing.
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OTHER FORMER AND CURRENT OFFICERS:
K
My partner is a serving police officer. He and all of our friends on the beat are good people. They work excessive overtime, generally have to work every concert, miss out on weekends with friends and family, work difficult shifts and all for little pay. They are regularly abused both physically and verbally by the public, although lately of course the usual derogatory "pigs" and "I pay your wages" etc has been replaced by "rapists". My heart goes out to them - I don't know how they hang in there. And they hardly ever complain. They are just as disgusted by the few who have let the force down as anybody else. Stop this witch hunt and try and remember we are dealing with decent human beings for the most part - probably the same proportion of decent human beings as exists in every profession.
Mike
After reading the views of previous writers, especially one from a serving Police Officer, I am still of the opinion that nothing has changed. Why has this enquiry been so narrowly focused on just the sexual side of complaints against Police? The Police force was and still is a very closed book or closed community. Step outside the community and you are subjected to harassment from within. You become an outsider. If these new kids on the block think they are different, then I suggest they take a look at themselves. Many think they are above reproach and can do nothing wrong. Their attitude and they way they speak to people, give people little reason why they should be respected. I know, as I have a number of friends who are still in the job, who have been there a lot longer than these new guys, who say that they should not be blamed for things that happened many years ago. My friends have said that they couldn't trust any of the new guys as they are just out to look after themselves and stick together all the time. Just a new breed of the old it seems. They are a part of the culture. Turn a blind eye to what goes on and it goes away, so they think. Some of what I am talking about: Sexual harassment of female officers, affairs between officers while they are working, harassment of offenders and their friends, harassment of people who make complaints against police, male officers getting details of females they see driving then contacting or visiting them under some pretext, just to name a few. Then there is the problem of Police investigating themselves. There should be an independent body, completely independent. I had an instance where a very senior officer once said, if the boys would only tell me the truth about what happened then I would have a better chance of getting them off it. You have instances of Police Officers reporting what they think is an officer who has offended and then the complaining to the officer actually doing the investigation. I can name a few instances where that has happened. You may think I am talking through a hole in my head, but I served in the force for 22 years and saw what went on. And before anyone says anything, yes I am guilty of not reporting things or not standing up for other people, instead I took the easy road and just let it slide by and did nothing. But then when it happens to you and no one stands up to support you, you really see how they work. This report should have gone further. It should have looked at the entire Police force and its culture and they way it conducts investigations. Win at all costs, that's how they work. The Keith Hunter book, Trial by Trickery, is a good example of that. They don't lie, they just twist the truth to fit the situation they want to portray. Good work, Keith. I would suggest that if a true picture of the culture of the Police is wanted then speak to a few of the ex police officers who are absolutely disgusted at the way the Police Force is today and the way they don't do their job properly.
Anonymous
As a current serving officer of the New Zealand Police I find myself being kicked while I am down. I left a job paying significantly more after Univerisity to do the best I can for the community I care about. I strive to protect innocent people and I push myself every shift to apprehend and prosecute offenders making criminals accountable for their offending and brining recourse to their victims.
In my 4 years in the Police have been:
- Assaulted by offenders(on almost a monthly basis)
- Spat on
- Foul and obscene abusive language is a daily occurrence
- Been the first on the scene at a gruesome murder in some of the worse circumstances
- Dealt with dead and the dying
- I've put myself in harms way to save another's life
- I've delivered the worse news a parent can hear more often than I care to remember
- And much much more.
My girlfriend puts up with:
- My shift work and the ridiculous overtime of which there is no financial benefit.
- Her boyfriend comes home with injuries.
- The worrying which only a policeman's wife/partner can know.
- Not being intimate with her partner during a time when he may have caught a disease from an offender.
- Low pay/financial benefits compared to her and my peers.
I don't expect public sympathy for these things because I, and every cop who joins, knows that this is the job. However, what makes me feel physically ill is the way the public so quickly jump to the conclusion that we are all corrupt and dirty given the few and historic actions of an extreme minority. The only dirt on our section at the end of a shift, is on our trousers from our last foot pursuit of a burglar. Open your eyes New Zealand - you have the most professional, dedicated and productive Police force which money doesn't buy. My advice: volunteer for a ride along with your local station and then you can pass comment on us. I challenge any politician to walk in our shoes for a week and then pass judgement.
Craig
I have spent 11 years in the Police and have worked in many towns big and small, including Auckland. During that time, I never saw or heard of any untoward sexual behaviour or ill treatment of victims. I joined the Police to help people like most Police and have been proud to be a NZ Police Officer. It is very hard to take the criticism now thrown at the Police as I had no part in it. The complaints should have been dealt with in an appropriate manner at the time. As most people know, being a Police Officer is a difficult job with very little thanks received. When everyone else is running away from danger we are tasked to deal with it. We too have families and friends and the criticism levelled at Police affects them as well. I for one will not be remaining in the Police and unfortunately a number of my colleagues are of the same mind. There is only so much criticism and abuse that you can take.
Ex-Copper
I am a retired cop of similar vintage to the current commissioner. I also knew 2 of the 3 accused in the Nicholas case, but never worked with them or at the same station. I was in a position where I would have expected to have heard rumours of the type some are saying where common-place. I can honestly say that I never heard of any cover-ups or any condoning of any anti-social sexual behaviour. It is obvious that it did happen to a degree, but it certainly was not as prevalent as many are thinking (or hoping). I also hold a different view to many on what should be proper behaviour for police in their private lives. My view is that if society thinks something is so abhorrent that cops shouldn't be doing it in their lives - then society should outlaw the practice for the entire population. While it should be expected that police are squeaky clean, it should only extend to illegal behaviour. If I am a Catholic, can I expect to be compassionate to a Protestant or Muslim complainant? If I am a female, can I expect to be compassionate to a male complainant? If I am homosexual, can I be expected to be compassionate to someone who is heterosexual? If I engage in consensual group sex, can I be expected to be compassionate to those that don't?
Allan King
As an ex-officer back in the 50s/60s, I never thought that this could happen in a Police Force that I was proud to be a member of and that had the public trust. I do hope that these events of the past do not deter the public from having confidence in the force. There are lots of good, hard working people in the Police and, remember, there are bad apples in all areas of the country, and that includes women, for they are just as good at lying, and committing crimes as men are. I do hope that the women who were involved accept the Commissioner's apology. I also hope that they were telling the truth when they cry 'rape' for it could come back to haunt them. It does take two to tango. Justice is a contract of expediency, entered upon to prevent men and women harming or being harmed. Perfection is a divine right only, not any man or woman can claim to be so, for they would be lying.
Steve
My sympathies go out to the overwhelming majority of Police Officers whose actions are completely above reproach, but whose reputations are being tarnished by this report. I am a former Police Officer (ex-Auckland CIB) and I can say unequivocally that the disgusting behaviour that has been reported is rare in the extreme. Yes, I can recall a handful of Police being brought up on charges, but far outweighing those memories are the ones of heroism, self-sacrifice, dedication and professionalism that are far more characteristic of New Zealand's Police Service. While it is true that Police are a close-knit bunch, they are not a mob and I can also say unequivocally that I never knew of any Police "culture" that would tolerate this type of behaviour. It saddens me that everyone in NZ now knows Clint Rickards' name, but who's heard of his replacement as the Auckland chief Gavin Jones? Gavin is the very model of professionalism, dedication and integrity. A great detective and an inspiring leader. Please, let's not forget that there are far more Jones in the New Zealand Police than there are Rickards.
Anonymous
As an ex serving officer who started in the early 80s, I was aware of and disgusted by some of the behaviour of a small minority of serving members then. This said, it must not be overlooked that there were and still are the vast majority of police officers who are honest hard working people with the public's interest at heart; their biggest value being integrity. I agree, those that don't shape up on the moral and ethical front (as there are still those within the force who support the likes of Shipton et al), who make life difficult for others who have stood up for and spoken the truth, ought to be made accountable and exited as soon as possible. It is these few that are undermining the attempts of the many honest officers within the NZ Police to give the New Zealand public the top class service that everyone wants.
