Sex inquiry: Why police stood second officer down

By PATRICK GOWER

A second police district commander has been suspended as the police inquiry into the alleged Rotorua pack rape widens to other accusations of sexual misconduct.

Waikato district commander Kelvin Powell, who was stood down on Saturday, took over the district from Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards.

Mr Rickards was himself stood down from the Auckland City district command pending the outcome of the inquiry.

The Herald has learned Mr Powell is one of four officers that Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas previously complained had committed sexual indecencies on her in Murupara between 1980 and 1983, when she was aged 13 to 15.

These complaints were separate from the pack rape she has alleged Mr Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum committed in Rotorua in 1986 when she was about 18.

It is understood her allegations cover a total of seven individual officers, most of whom she claims offended against her more than once.

Police reopened their investigation into the pack rape 10 days ago. Now it seems the criminal inquiry is also looking at the earlier allegations.

Deputy Commissioner Steve Long would not comment yesterday on the broadening of the inquiry he is heading.

He would say only that Mr Powell was an "individual of interest" and not the fourth man, as yet unidentified, involved in Mrs Nicholas' pack rape allegation.

But it appears the inquiry is looking closely at all of Mrs Nicholas' allegations.

These were handled by then-Detective Inspector John Dewar, whom Mrs Nicholas now accuses of failing to investigate them properly so he could protect his colleagues.

Mrs Nicholas first made her complaint about the Rotorua pack rape in 1994.

She made the allegations about the alleged sexual indecencies in nearby Murupara about the same time. They were also investigated by Mr Dewar and cleared as "not established".

On Friday, another woman claimed she was manipulated into having sex in the mid-1980s with Mr Dewar, Mr Shipton and Mr Rickards.

Yesterday, Kelvin Powell was resting at home but would not comment to the Herald. Mr Powell and the officers at the centre of the Murupara claims denied the allegations at time of the original investigations.

Mrs Nicholas could not be reached to discuss the Murupara allegations. The other officers she accused either did not want to comment or had not been contacted by the police.

Mr Rickards, Mr Shipton and Mr Schollum deny raping or violating Mrs Nicholas. They do admit to having consensual sex with her.

In a statement from his lawyer, Mr Dewar, who now works for St John Ambulance, said that at all times he did his duty as a detective inspector and "has done no wrong".

Mr Powell now joins Mr Rickards, who was in charge of the Auckland City police district, on stand-down. The Auckland district is being headed by Detective Inspector Gavin Jones and Waikato by Detective Inspector Bruce Scott.

The Government has also ordered a commission of inquiry into Mrs Nicholas' allegations and the broader police culture.

Mr Powell replaced Mr Rickards as head of the Waikato district when Mr Rickards was promoted to assistant commissioner in 2001. Mr Powell had been working directly under him in charge of a sub-area.

One officer yesterday described Mr Powell as a well-liked, highly regarded and astute boss.

"He is your classic cop who has done the hard yards. Everyone likes and respects him and you couldn't find a better boss."

Police Minister George Hawkins has said the stand-down of Mr Powell would heighten public confidence in the police because it showed police were leaving no stone unturned.

Police Association President Greg O'Connor urged the public to suspend judgment until all the facts were known, saying the allegations could wrongly ruin Mr Powell's reputation.

Meanwhile, the union covering St John Ambulance workers, the National Distribution Union, has called for Mr Dewar to be removed from dealing with staff until the investigation ends.

The Herald has revealed he got the job after a verbal reference was sought from Mr Rickards.

St John chief executive officer Jaimes Wood said Mr Dewar would not be stood down from his position as human resource manager for the Midland region.

Kelvin Powell

* Waikato district police commander, aged 42, father of three.

* Was to be the New Zealand Olympic team's security liaison officer in Athens this year. Inspector Gary Allcock will now take over the role.

* A Pakeha, Mr Powell speaks fluent Maori and has been with the police for 24 years.

* In 2001 completed an 11-week course at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virginia.

TODAY

* The head of the Government's commission of inquiry into the police is expected to be announced.

* A full meeting of Cabinet will consider the inquiry's terms of reference.