Sunday Star Times
February 15, 2004
Second top cop stood down
by David Fisher and Rachel Grunwell
A second high-ranking
police officer was stood down last night as the investigation into allegations
of a rape cover-up spread.
The
The office of the commissioner released a statement to the Sunday Star-Times
that said: "The criminal inquiry team under deputy commissioner Steve Long
has today confirmed that superintendent Kelvin Powell is an individual of
interest to their investigation.
"The commissioner has commenced the processes for the stand down of superintendent Powell and this is expected to be completed
tonight. Alternative arrangements are being made for the command of the Waikato
District."
When contacted last night, Powell said: "I have no comment to make. I
can't say anything other than that."
Nicholas alleges she was pack-raped by assistant commissioner Clint Rickards,
Bob Schollum, now a Napier car dealer, and Brad Shipton, now a Tauranga city
councillor, when all three were policemen in Rotorua in about 1986.
The three have strongly denied the allegations.
The office of the commissioner acknowledged yesterday that there had been
speculation Powell was "the fourth man" - a person Nicholas claims
watched as she was raped. However, police headquarters said the speculation
incorrect.
They would not expand on the role Powell plays in their inquiry "as the
investigation is still in its early stages and there is no wish for the overall
investigation to be compromised or prejudiced in any way".
However, a source told the Star-Times last night that there had been a Police
Complaints Authority inquiry into an incident in Murupara
in the '80s involving Powell.
It is not known if that relates to Powell's stand down.
Powell's first job was as an 18-year-old constable at the Rotorua police
station. The Star-Times understands Powell also worked for a short period at
the Murupara police station.
Superintendent Nick Perry, in charge of the inquiry into Nicholas' allegations,
said Powell was interviewed by police on Thursday, and was among 30 people who
have been interviewed by eight officers from outside the Rotorua police
district in the last week. Shipton, Schollum and Rickards are yet to be
interviewed.
Perry said several names had been put forward as the fourth man who witnessed
the alleged pack-rape. "This person is still a mystery at this
stage."
Police Minister George Hawkins said the stand down of Powell would
"heighten" public confidence in the police. He said it showed police
were eager to move quickly, and "leave no stone unturned".
However, police colleagues, who described Powell as "a good boss" and
"highly regarded", were shocked.
Greg O'Connor, of the NZ Police Association, said Powell was known as a police
officer who had worked "all the hard stations". "Kelvin is very
well regarded by his troops. His troops are going to be really shocked. We will
wait and see."
O'Connor urged the public to suspend judgement until all the facts were known.
"There is a real danger that any names that come up will suffer damage to
their reputations. Once the allegations are made it is very difficult for
people to get their reputations back."
The top Hamilton officer on duty last night, senior sergeant Pete Simpson, said
he was shocked about the stand down and staff had not yet been informed of this
decision. "He's a good boss," said Simpson.
Opposition parties said the news would be a blow to the public's confidence in
police. United Future's police spokesman Marc Alexander said that Hawkins
should quit.
Muriel Newman, Act spokeswoman, said the inquiry had to be completed as quickly
as possible.
Nicholas, who has been interviewed by police since Friday, had found the
process difficult, said her husband Ross. "It would be hard on anyone
doing what she is doing," he said.
The Star-Times contacted Nicholas late last night and she said it was a
"complete mystery" why Powell had been stood down, but she could not
comment because an investigation was under way.