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This page last updated July
2 2006
Appointed
Commissioner
On April 4 2006, Howard Broad was appointed New Zealand's top cop, the
Commissioner of Police: This was
officially announced by the police and government:
2006-0404 - NZ Police - New Police
Commissioner and Deputies Appointed
2006-0404 - NZ Government -
New Police Commissioner and deputies appointed
His official
credentials
The announcement was accompanied by the normal justification for such
an appointment. For example Police
Minister Annette King says Broad brings "excellent strategic thinking
and management abilities, along with strong frontline experience to the role" His CV included 30 years with the
police.
2006-0404 - One News -
Police commissioner named
2006-0404 - Stuff - Assistant
Commissioner now the top cop
What Broad said
himself
Broad himself claims to "think liberally"and that he
realises the "enormity of his task". He is "committed to
restoring public confidence" to the police. He raised "a question for the police"
asking " are we able to step up to the mark and answer the scrutiny the
organisation underwent"
2006-0405 - Dominion Post -
If ever there was an easy time to take over
2006-0405 - Dominion Post -
Outsider wins race for top police post
2006-0405 - NZ Herald -
Policeman on mission to restore confidence
The reaction of
others
Mostly silent. Frontline police
spoken to by The Dominion Post expressed surprise at the appointment. The police Association welcomed his
appointment. There was little else.
(This site will be willing to publish any reports praising Broad at
the time of his appointment, if such reports exist)
2006-0405 - Dominion Post -
Outsider wins race for top police post
Howard Broad's
dark past
However, Broad had a dark past, which had not been mentioned in the
appointment announcements, or by Broad himself: His role in the Peter Ellis investigation. Author Lynley Hood made a press release
which stated that
Howard Broad’s
press conference in October 1992 destroyed the careers and previously
unblemished reputations of four well-qualified, experienced and dedicated
child care workers.
Lynley Hood also made comment about his appointment as Commissioner:
With Howard
Broad’s appointment as the country’s top police officer, there is a real risk
that ongoing damage caused to the fabric of New Zealand society by sex abuse
hysteria and false allegations will continue unabated.
Dr Hood's comments were also reported by NZPA
2006-0404 - NZPA - New Top Cop was
involved in Peter Ellis investigation
2006-0405 - Scoop - Howard Broad
(by Lynley Hood)
What peterellis.org.nz
had to say
PeterEllis.org issued a press release:
2006-0405 - peterellis.org.nz
- New Commissioner unable to restore public confidence
PeterEllis.org.nz
Seeking justice for Peter
Ellis and other victims, both past
and
present, of the New Zealand sex abuse moral panic
New Police Commissioner
unable to restore public confidence in police
Press Release
5 April 2006
New Police
Commissioner Howard Broad may wistfully hope to restore public confidence in
the police force. But his own direct
involvement in the Christchurch Crèche investigation now means that New
Zealand's top cop is himself hopelessly compromised by his own past,
spokesperson Brian Robinson announced today.
The
Christchurch Crèche case is now recognised by the majority of New Zealanders
as an obvious miscarriage of justice.
Howard Broad has never admitted that mistakes were made by himself or
any other officer in that investigation. Howard Broad has has also never apologised
to any of the Christchurch Crèche staff for his own actions in unnecessarily
destroying their careers and reputations.
The
Christchurch Crèche case remains symptomatic of why public confidence in the
police has eroded. Until Howard Broad understands and is willing to
acknowledge his own failings, he remains incapable of leadership in restoring
any sort of confidence for the organisation that he now leads.
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