15 police copped for being over limit

By SCOTT INGLIS

Fifteen police, including two commissioned officers and a senior detective, have been arrested for drink-driving since 1995.

At least eight recorded breath-alcohol readings more than twice the legal limit of 400 micrograms and two were above 1000 Mcg.

The figures, released by police to the Herald, follow a second Auckland police officer being arrested for drink-driving in six months.

The numbers have also prompted the Police Association formally to question whether officers should lose their jobs for drink-driving convictions.

Early last Saturday, an Auckland City detective constable was charged with drink-driving after colleagues noticed him driving erratically near the Auckland central station.

The detective had been drinking at the Auckland central police bar. It is believed he was driving a police car when caught. Police have refused to confirm this, saying an internal inquiry is under way.

His arrest follows that of Superintendent Brett Marsh, who was stopped on December 21 on the Newton Rd motorway on-ramp.

Marsh, aged 47, head of the police northern communications centre, recorded 691 mcg, pleaded guilty and quit the force. He was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for six months.

The police drink-drive figures show that as well as Marsh, eight constables, two detective constables, two detectives, a detective senior-sergeant and an inspector have all been arrested since 1995.

Of those, three were fired, three quit, five were still being dealt with, three left the force under the Police Employment Rehabilitation Fund (Perf) scheme, and one - the inspector - retired.

A spokesman for Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Steve Long said that while 15 out of 7000 officers was not a high number, "anything is a concern as far as police are concerned."

"We're taking it extremely seriously. The integrity of the police is paramount and these cases do not reflect well on the New Zealand police."

There was no concern over the use of police bars but all officers needed to take responsibility and ensure they set an example.

All officers whose cases have been dealt with in the past five years are now out of a job. Each case is judged on its merits but the commissioner retains the right and the authority to fire officers for drink driving convictions.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor has written to Commissioner Rob Robinson saying that police should not automatically lost their jobs for drink driving.

In the union's June newsletter, he said: "All police are aware of the changed social attitude towards drinking and driving and we in no way condone or seek to minimise this behaviour," he said.

"But there are other ways of punishing police for offending other than a blanket dismissal."

Examples included fines, rank reduction and suspension.

Mr O'Connor said most drink-drive cases were not in the same league as police being convicted of rape, serious violence or dishonesty.