Police officer slept with woman after routine traffic stop

RNZ News

4 days ago

The officer also left police equipment at the woman's address and shared digital images of police activity with her. File photo.
Photo:
123RF
A police officer who stopped a woman at a routine traffic stop used the police database to make enquires about the woman and had consensual sex with her the next night.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has released its summary findings of a police investigation which looked into two officers' conduct with a member of the public.
It said Officer B and his field training officer Officer A were working together on a nightshift when they initially conducted a routine traffic stop of Ms Z and queried her in the police database.
"Officer A subsequently contacted Ms Z by text message, resulting in an inappropriate conversation, which Officer B was unaware of.
"The officers separately conducted several further queries of Ms Z in the police database towards the end of their shift."
The next night, the officers drove an intoxicated Ms Z home after she called Officer A and requested a ride home from her workplace. They were both invited inside.
"Officer B became uncomfortable with being in the address, returning to the patrol vehicle parked outside, leaving Officer A and Ms Z inside the address for an extended period of time. While together inside the address Officer A and Ms Z engaged in consensual sexual activity," the authority said.
"Officer B conducted additional queries of Ms Z within the police database due to concerns he held for the actions of Officer A with Ms Z."
The authority said Officer A returned to Ms Z's address by himself twice while on duty in the subsequent weeks and both times engaged in sexual activity.
Officer A also left police equipment at the address, shared digital images of police activity with Ms Z and made a large number of further queries about Ms Z in the police database.
Police said the investigation started in December 2024, when they became aware of video footage circulating depicting two police staff on duty inside a private address.
It said the video was taken around June 2024.
"As a result, our investigation established Officer A engaged in consensual sexual activity with the woman at the time," said Superintendent Sunny Patel, Auckland City District Commander.
"It was also established Officer A visited the woman's address on multiple occasions after the video was filmed," he said. "These visits occurred while he was on duty."
Patel said during the investigation, both members' use of the police database and the sharing of police information was explored.
"There was insufficient evidence to prove criminal offending occurred," he said.
"However, regardless of this finding, there are high expectations set on our people while they are on duty."
Patel said Officer A was the more experienced member of the pair, being Officer B's field training officer when they were both on the nightshift.
"We are appalled at the poor conduct and decision making of Officer A throughout this matter."
He said while Officer A had resigned from police during the investigation, an employment process was carried out in accordance with the Public Service Commission's guidelines.
Officer B was also subject to a confidential employment process as a result.
The authority said it was satisfied with the investigation police undertook and the outcome reached for both officers.
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