Cop resigns after assaulting woman

Photo / File

A Hawke's Bay police constable who assaulted a woman after being accused of snorting drugs during a night out has resigned from the police force.

Mikayla Paul, 23, had been subject to an internal investigation and was on restricted duties before her resignation.

Judge Josephine Bouchier found the charge of assault proved at a hearing in the Napier District Court late last year.

Court documents show that during the hearing the court heard Paul assaulted Lisa O'Connor on a bus taking a group of people to the Thirsty Whale bar in Napier on June 2 last year.

Earlier that evening Ms O'Connor had accused Paul and her friend of snorting drugs in a rugby club toilet cubicle, which they denied.

Ms O'Connor suffered from bruising and had clumps of hair missing after the assault.

Yesterday a police spokeswoman confirmed Paul had "recently" resigned but would not specify when.

Ms Paul has two previous convictions while in the police force. In February 2010 she pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing injury and in November that year pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified. Her application for a discharge without conviction for the second offence was dismissed.

Nationwide, at least 67 police staff have been arrested in the past three years while serving on the force. Charges include dealing LSD, assault, drink-driving and theft.

The districts which led the criminal behaviour were Canterbury and Waitemata, according to police figures released under the Official Information Act.

In 2011, 28 police employees were arrested on charges including impersonating police, assault with intent to injure, unlawful sexual connection to a female and obstructing the course of justice.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the figures clearly showed that police don't look after their own - in fact they do the opposite.

"If there were no police officers being arrested and charged ever, I think the public would have rightfully more concern that there was covering up.

"No one who has had anything to do with police - particularly lawyers who look after police officers - would ever say anything other than they're absolutely and utterly thorough."

Mr O'Connor said many of the cases highlighted by the figures would have been found not guilty by the courts because, had they been a civilian, they probably would not have been charged.