|
|
Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
|
|
|
|
A senior policeman appointed
to help inquire into a "sick" police culture has quit the role
after revelations he was once the subject of a complaint about inappropriate
behaviour. Inspector Pieter
Roozendaal had been seconded from his complaints investigation role in the North
Shore/Waitakere/Rodney District to help the South Auckland inquiry, sparked
by the recent trial of Senior Sergeant Anthony Solomona. Trial judge Bruce
Davidson condemned Solomona's conduct, which included photographing a
15-year-old boy wearing a sign that read "I am the property of Senior
Sergeant Solomona". The court was also
shown a picture of a machete and axe-wielding policeman posing with a number
of other weapons and a sign saying "RIP to Section 4" (the
emergency response unit headed by Solomona). Judge Davidson also
talked of a "sick" culture within the police. Police Commissioner Rob
Robinson said an inquiry would determine whether there was evidence of a
culture "that condones or encourages acts of violence or other
inappropriate treatment toward prisoners, suspects or other persons in the
Counties Manukau Police District". The Office of the
Commissioner last night issued a statement which said Mr Roozendaal was
involved in an incident where alleged inappropriate language was used. Mr Roozendaal
reportedly said to a man who had been in custody for some hours and been
strip searched: "Have you had your beating yet?" Last night TV3 reported
that the comment was made in 1988. Mr Roozendaal was a detective sergeant
working in the Counties Manukau district at the time. Acting Commissioner
Steve Long said Mr Roozendaal had indicated to police that he was exonerated
from the complaint, but accepted he used words which were construed as
"inappropriate humour". Mr Roozendaal asked to stand
down from the inquiry led by a retired High Court judge, Sir David Tompkins. Mr Long said Mr
Roozendaal, who joined police in 1977, had worked hard on the inquiry in the
short time it had been set up. "We will now be
looking to quickly fill the role with a new investigator to support Sir
David," Mr Long said. The inquiry team this
week called for public submissions and Mr Roozendaal was quoted as saying:
"An investigation such as this is reliant on people coming forward and
telling their stories." North
Shore/Waitakere/Rodney District Commander Superintendent Roger Carson said
last night that he wanted Mr Roozendaal to remain in his job as manager of
police professional standards. "Inspector
Roozendaal has told me he was totally exonerated for his actions at the time
in the late 1980s and I have absolute confidence in his current role." |
