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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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Assistant Police
Commissioner Clint Rickards will continue to receive a full pay cheque till
criminal proceedings against him – which could take years – conclude. He has been receiving
his full annual salary, estimated to be about $200,000, since being stood
down on full pay in February last year, three days after The Dominion Post
revealed allegations by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas. He was arrested last
week, along with former colleagues Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum, by
Operation Austin detectives and faces various charges, the details of which
are suppressed. He did not enter a plea and will reappear in Rotorua District
Court on April 15. His lawyer, John Haigh QC, said Rickards "utterly
denied" any offending. Police Association
president Greg O'Connor said it was usual practice for charged police
officers, regardless of their rank, to remain on full pay till the outcome of
any court cases are reached. "Otherwise you are prejudging an employment
matter." Mr O'Connor said the
association would make a decision on whether to foot the legal bills for the
three men after court proceedings had ended. He confirmed that officers who
are eligible for legal help at the time of any alleged offending can apply to
the association for funding, even if they are no longer officers. A spokesman for police
said it was normal procedure for officers under investigation to be stood
down till an investigation was completed and a decision made on whether
further disciplinary or criminal action would be taken. A range of options are
available to discipline staff found guilty of offences, ranging from taking
no further action, to issuing a reprimand or sacking the officer. Action
depends on the seriousness of the offence, but in cases of serious criminal
offending the likely consequence would be dismissal. The same punishments
apply to members found not guilty, but who are considered to have brought
police into disrepute. Any decision is at the discretion of Police
Commissioner Rob Robinson or his delegated representative. |
