Rob Pope to retire from Police

Rob Pope will retire from the Police when his five-year term as Deputy Commissioner ends in April. File photo / Paul Estcourt

Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope has announced he will retire when his term ends on April 3 next year.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad will also retire when his term runs out in April, with former Solomon Islands police chief Peter Marshall appointed to replace him.

Mr Pope, a 36-year police veteran, said his decision would allow Mr Marshall's new administration room to establish its own culture.

"I have, after careful reflection over the Christmas/New year period, concluded that in the interests of Police it would be appropriate to allow the new administration to determine the way forward as it sees fit."

His decision comes after last night's release of a damning report on lingering problems in police culture.

The independent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers criticised police senior management for lacking the confidence and ability to make the bold moves to "change the DNA" of the organisation.

It also quoted a police officer saying there was a disconnect between police leadership and frontline workers.

The officer said "the commissioner and all his mates at 'bullshit castle' at headquarters should get back on the street and get a reality check".

Earlier today, Mr Broad said he was worried the report looked like "a huge, big slapping".

But Mr Pope said he was proud of the changes he had established in police culture.

He had been privileged to support Mr Broad in delivering strategic vision for policing in New Zealand, he said.

"After 36 years service I still retain the enthusiasm for, and believe in the qualities of New Zealand Police which make us such a unique and universally respected organisation.

For the past 5 years our organisation has experienced a period of significant challenge and change, during which I have felt privileged to have supported Commissioner Broad and his strategic vision. Police is well positioned to positively move forward as a result of the platform laid in recent years."

Mr Pope said his top achievements as Deputy Commissioner included leading the response to Dame Margaret Bazeley's 2007 Commission of Inquiry into Police Misconduct, which received 313 complaints of sexual assault against 222 police officers.

He also approved 300 new police officers for crime prevention in Counties Manukau, developed police programmes for dealing with cyber crime and child exploitation and set up the Policing Excellence programme.

Judith Collins told the Herald in January that creating a culture change in police would be a high priority in her decision on who to appoint as Deputy Commissioner.

Mr Pope joined the force in 1975, serving in uniform duties for five years before joining the Criminal Investigative Branch in the Canterbury District.

He received a succession of promotions, rising to national crime manager before being appointed Wellington district commander in 2004.

- NZHERALD STAFF