The whānau confirmed today that the officer had been charged with dangerous driving causing death.
Munroe said the whānau were ready for what was to come and would take it one day at a time.
Northland district commander Superintendent Matt Srhoj confirmed the next step was police filing a charge in the Whangārei District Court.
He said police anticipated Officer A would appear in court next month.
“We reiterate that Officer A is continuing to co-operate fully with the police investigation.”
Before Riley died, she had signed up for an armed forces course the following year at People Potential.
Munroe said Riley’s dream had been to join the army.
She had also been dedicated to boxing and longed to be in an amateur fight.
But that future was stolen from her, Munroe said.
“It’s just shattering. It’s such a waste... She had a bright future ahead of her.”
She was a meticulous planner and her old journals listed many goals.
“I just cry reading all the things she had planned to do,” Munroe said.
Riley grew up in Auckland and had become well-travelled at a young age.
As a youngster, she visited Thailand and Argentina, and at 6 she flew to Brazil on her own in the company of a stewardess.
“She was quite a brave little cookie,” Munroe said.
“Because of those experiences, it made her more worldly and more understanding of different people and different environments.
“She could just talk to anyone from any walk of life.”
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.
