By PATRICK GOWER
A former police officer has been charged with using his past position to defeat the course of justice - the seventh officer to face court action this year.
Ini Kerapa, now a 43-year-old fisheries officer, pleaded not guilty in the Hamilton District Court yesterday to a charge of assisting a man to avoid prosecution.
The alleged offence occurred between November 1998 and January 1999 in and around Wairoa.
Kerapa was remanded at large to reappear this month on the condition that he does not associate with witnesses.
The Acting Police Commissioner, Paul Fitzharris, said last night that the number of police on criminal charges was "far too many and we don't like it."
"We are not backing away from this, and we will not sweep it under the carpet.
"The public can be assured there is no systemic corruption in the New Zealand police force, and while some of these are serious allegations, they are all isolated incidents."
Other cases this year of police officers before the courts on criminal charges include:
* Constable Brian Scott, 29, who is charged with using his position, power and authority to gain unlawful sexual connection at the Turangi police station on January 28.
* A Hawkes Bay officer who has interim name suppression after being charged with unlawful sexual connection and indecently assaulting a school-aged girl on January 25.
* Another Hawkes Bay officer who has been charged in an unrelated incident at a Havelock North bar on New Year's Day.
* Superintendent Brett Marsh, 47, who is charged with driving with a level of 691 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath on December 21. The legal limit is 400 Mcg.
* A 34-year-old Auckland constable who is charged with dangerous driving after a crash on New North Rd in Auckland on October 14 which killed 74-year-old Michael Hetmancynyk. He has interim name suppression and is due to appear in the Auckland District Court today.
* Colin MacLean, 37, of Mangakino, who is on trial in the High Court at Rotorua charged with raping and assaulting a female in 1994.
Last year, 19 separate criminal charges were brought against a number of police officers. Six resigned, one was found not guilty and the others charges have still to be resolved.
Mr Fitzharris said the police force was a large organisation of more than 9000 people, and while it was inevitable that some would fall out of line, "that is no excuse."
Last week, Mr Fitzharris reacted publicly to allegations of preferential treatment in the force. He reissued to Gisborne Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Johnston a speeding ticket which had twice been waived.
He also ordered that two constables receive counselling from their superiors for "errors of judgment" made when they helped fellow officers facing charges to leave courts through restricted exits.
Police Minister George Hawkins would not comment last night.
But Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the high number of police before the courts showed "there was no such thing as 'immunity' for one of our own."
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