NZ Herald
February 16, 2004
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.
Mr Rickards was himself stood down from the
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
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
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.
Kelvin Powell
*
* Was to be the
* 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
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.