Otago Daily Times
March 2, 2004

Sidelined while pack rape claims examined
Former detective on leave
NZPA

Auckland: Former detective John Dewar has been sidelined from his job as a St John Ambulance executive while under investigation over police sexual misconduct claims.

St John chief executive Jaimes Wood said yesterday Mr Dewar had gone on leave while a commission of inquiry examines issues stemming from Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas' complaint of being pack-raped by police and violated with a baton.

Mr Dewar was head of Rotorua's CIB in the 1980s, when Mrs Nicholas alleges she was pack raped by now Auckland police chief Clint Rickards, and former police officers Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.

Mr Rickards has been stood down on full pay while the claims are investigated.

All three men have strenuously denied the allegations.

Mr Dewar is under investigation for allegedly mishandling the complaint.

On Friday, Mr Dewar took leave of absence from his job as a human resources manager with St John in Hamilton, a position he has held since April 2001.

Mr Wood told The New Zealand Herald Mr Dewar was "on leave of absence by mutual consent while he focuses on the commission of inquiry".

As to whether that meant Mr Dewar had been stood down, Mr Wood said: "It means he will not be at work conducting his normal duties while the commission of inquiry is conducted."

He would not say whether Mr Dewar was on paid or unpaid leave until November, when Justice Bruce Robertson and Dame Margaret Bazley are due to report their commission findings.

The issue of pay was an employment matter and one that needed to remain confidential between St John and Mr Dewar, he told NZPA.

In Hamilton, St John Midland chief executive Eddie Jackson said Mr Dewar "vehemently denies these things he's been accused of"