Saturday, 02 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand / Crime

Road cop in drink drive inquiry

By Rachel Tiffen
31 Mar, 2010 03:00 PM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

A police officer who works in a serious crash unit is under investigation for alleged drink-driving after he was reported for backing into a parked car.

The Herald understands the man works in Greater Auckland and blew 1100mcg - nearly three times the legal limit of 400mcg - when breath-tested two weekends ago.

Police are now waiting for the results of a blood test, which can take several weeks to arrive.

Police sources say the officer reversed into a stationary car in a North Shore car park, believed to be at a fast-food restaurant, and drove off.

Witnesses reported him to police and he was pulled over.

It is understood the officer has taken voluntary leave and will not be stood down unless the blood test yields evidence for a prosecution.

The officer could not be reached for comment.

The relieving area commander for North Shore police, Inspector Vitale Lafaele, refused yesterday to confirm the alleged drink-driving incident, citing sections of the Official Information Act involving privacy and a person's right to a fair trial.

The serious crash investigator is not the first police officer to get into trouble with the law over alleged drink-driving.

Constable Matt Hooper was pulled over by colleagues and breath-tested on Union St in central Auckland in December 2008.

But he avoided taking an evidential blood test at the station. It is understood he asked officers if he could go to the toilet.

He emerged with a head injury and was taken to hospital.

The Land Transport Act says blood taken in hospital for alcohol testing can be used in court only if the suspect is in hospital because of a car accident.

Hooper has since pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice and been sentenced to 100 hours of community work.

Auckland police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said yesterday that he had been stood down pending the outcome of a "code of conduct process".

Two days after Hooper was tested, Superintendent Graham Thomas, a former police national prosecutions manager, refused a breath test in Wellington.

Last March, it was revealed that he had been cleared by an internal investigation but then took sick leave.

The Commissioner of Police, Howard Broad, said at the time that Mr Thomas was legally allowed to refuse the breath test, but as a senior officer was expected to take it voluntarily.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Crime

Victims tell of heartbreaking fallout after man burgles 36 homes

01 Dec 06:00 AM
New Zealand

Port fined $500k fine over death of stevedore

01 Dec 05:49 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Drugs, money seized following police operation against Killer Beez gang

01 Dec 05:31 AM
New Zealand

$25 million Auckland drug bust

Top toys of 2023 for kids & ‘kidults’

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Victims tell of heartbreaking fallout after man burgles 36 homes

Victims tell of heartbreaking fallout after man burgles 36 homes

01 Dec 06:00 AM

The 16-month crime spree across Whāngarei left a trail of shattered lives.

Port fined $500k fine over death of stevedore

Port fined $500k fine over death of stevedore

01 Dec 05:49 AM
Drugs, money seized following police operation against Killer Beez gang

Drugs, money seized following police operation against Killer Beez gang

01 Dec 05:31 AM
$25 million Auckland drug bust

$25 million Auckland drug bust

Toy trends for Christmas
sponsored

Toy trends for Christmas

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP