Allegations of abuse by NZ Police
	peterellis Home / police allegations / Rickards, Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 4 - Initial Reaction to Not Guilty Verdict
	Newswire March 2 2007; 08:24 Defence Lawyer Insists Rickards Is Fit For Job The lawyer for the suspended Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards says there should be nothing to prevent his client from returning to his job. Mr Rickards and two former officers Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum have been acquitted of historical sex charges. But it has been revealed that Shipton and Schollum are convicted rapists still in jail. Mr Rickards has voiced his belief they should not be in prison, is standing by them as his friends, and has criticised the police for their handling of his case. He remains suspended from duty while his employment status is dealt with. His lawyer John Haigh QC says his client can not see anything to prevent him from going back to his job as Auckland's top police officer. Mr Haigh says issues like public opinion or his friendship with two convicted rapists should not impact on that.