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Allegations
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New Zealand First law
and order spokesman Ron Mark accused Supt Shortland of launching a witch-hunt
against whistle-blowers and criticised the “intemperate” language in the
newsletter. Supt Shortland
encouraged police officers to dob in colleagues running to the media with
information. “If you know someone
who fits the bill, and you feel strongly about it, I would like to hear from
you.” Supt Shortland wrote
the newsletter after the New Zealand Herald contacted Counties Manukau Police
for comment about claims made by an unnamed police source there was an
internal disciplinary problem when a sergeant refused to obey the orders of a
senior sergeant. “The traitorous actions
of this person amount to some offences that can be dealt with as disciplinary
offences,” he said. Quoting a police ethics
booklet, Supt Shortland said people who became “traitors” did it for personal
gain — such as money, a free lunch or sex — or out of stupidity. Mr Mark said Supt
Shortland’s comments were out of order. “What gives the
commander the right to bully and abuse someone for alerting the public to
something they did not think was right,” he asked. But Supt Shortland said
yesterday his comments were not directed at officers with genuine concerns,
only those who “maliciously and scurrilously” leaked information to the
media. “Some people may see it
as a witch-hunt. Others will see it is an attempt to prevent malicious and
scurrilous leaks to the media in pursuit of a personal agenda,” Supt
Shortland said. “We were unable to
comment at the time as we did not have details on the incident. Subsequent
inquiries established that there was no argument and that the matter had been
blown out of proportion by the media and the ‘police source’,” Supt Shortland
said. The leak was designed
to embarrass police, he said. “These type of media
leaks are not common but had the potential to do enormous damage to
investigations, both internal and criminal, and effect police morale.” He emphasised the newsletter
was not directed at officers with serious concerns. |
