The Taranaki police officer who was dragged before the courts after attending a fatal crash whilst off-duty will remain in the police force.
Jonathan Erwood was discharged without conviction after he was found to have excess blood alcohol when he attended the accident in Mokau last July.
Today
Superintendent Mark Lammas said internal disciplinary action had been completed, with Senior Constable Erwood receiving a reprimand.
A copy of the reprimand will be placed on Jonathan Erwood's personal file for seven years, and will be taken into account if any subsequent disciplinary matter is proven in that time.
However, the reprimand does not appear to have had any other undue effect on Erwood's career.
He has been appointed to one of seven new positions as a rural liaison officer in the New Plymouth policing area. He will take up his new role on February 5th.
Meanwhile, National Police Headquarters is making moves to prevent a similar case in the future.
A new set of rules is being drafted to discourage officers from intervening in crimes or at accident scenes when they are off-duty. The new guidelines are expected to be in place in the next few months.
- NEWSTALK ZB
