Waikato Times
March 1, 2004
Ex-cop on leave from St John during inquiry
A former top cop
linked to police pack rape allegations has taken leave of absence from his job
as St John Midlands human resource manager while a commission of inquiry is
under way.
John Dewar was head of Rotorua's CIB when Louise
Nicholas alleges she was pack raped by now assistant commissioner Clint
Rickards, and former police officers Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.
Mr Dewar was the man she told about the alleged rape and was in charge of
investigating it.
An internal police inquiry into his handling of the case later found he failed
to properly investigate it.
He has been working at
On Friday he took leave of absence from his position at
Mr Wood confirmed
He asked a female detective "are you bonking one of the bosses or
something?" during a dispute about her reasons for wanting to stay on an
investigation.
Mr Wood said the incident concerned him.
The police investigation at the time attracted national headlines.
St John Midland chief executive Eddie Jackson said
He refused to say if Mr Dewar was being paid while the leave was taken but he
said it was for an "indefinite period at this point in time until he has
got these issues behind him".
Mr Jackson said there had been a lot of allegations and there were very serious
implications. "He vehemently denies these things he's accused of."
He said there was a proper authority investigating the allegations and Mr Dewar
was making sure it got his full attention.