Pubdate: Fri, 22 Feb 2002
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2002 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349
Author: Yvonne Martin

CANNABIS FOUND IN OFFICER'S CAR

A policewoman banned from the Christchurch Casino after a drunken fracas is 
facing disciplinary action over a car crash where cannabis was found in her 
car.

The officer, who was off duty at the time, and a male friend were 
travelling around the city together when the crash occurred.

Both were out of the car by the time police arrived at the crash scene and 
found a foil of cannabis inside. Her vehicle was impounded by police.

The lawyer representing the policewoman, Jonathan Eaton, has confirmed the 
police are taking no action over the cannabis.

However, the officer faces internal disciplinary action relating to her 
involvement in the crash.

The Canterbury police district commander, Superintendent John Reilly, would 
not comment on the incident. He said it was an internal employment issue 
and a matter before the Police Tribunal.

The policewoman was breath-tested at the scene, then asked to accompany an 
officer back to the police station for an evidential breath test.

She later indicated she would lay a complaint that she was unlawfully 
detained by the officer, but it is unclear what happened to the complaint.

In January last year the same policewoman, also off duty, was served a 
trespass notice barring her from the casino for two years, after a conflict 
with a security manager.

Police and casino security reports on the incident, obtained by The Press, 
show the woman became upset and left the casino after she was refused 
alcohol because she was intoxicated.

She returned three times within an hour and a half and was refused entry 
each time. Security shift manager Paul Anderson said that the woman told 
him she was a police officer.

His incident report said that the woman became "very upset and aggressive 
in her manner" and he offered her a taxi ride home.

"She was virtually begging to come in," he wrote.

On the officer's third attempt to enter the casino, Mr Anderson rang the 
police.

A senior sergeant arrived, confirmed the woman was a police officer, and 
drove her home.

Less than half an hour later, Mr Anderson said the policewoman returned and 
verbally abused him, saying "... that was my boss that came".

He told her to leave as she continued to berate him, using obscene language.

When the senior sergeant returned to the casino, with another senior 
sergeant, the woman was taken to an interview room and Mr Anderson served 
the trespass notice. She acknowledged she had problems and signed a form 
barring herself from the casino.

A police inspector rated the incident as a "minor" disciplinary matter in 
his report.

"... having said that, the behaviour is clearly unacceptable and puts the 
constable at risk, should it become ongoing."
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