List of New Zealand police officers killed in the line of duty

Last updated

This is a list of New Zealand Police officers killed in the line of duty. As of 2020, 33 police officers have been killed by criminal act, [1] [2] and about 17 have died from accidental causes, during the execution of duty. There has been one instance of multiple police deaths, when Stanley Graham gunned down four officers (and two wartime home guardsmen) attempting to apprehend him in 1941, and four double fatalities. Most of the homicides have been a result of gunshot wounds, the accidents mainly due to either drowning or vehicle (car/aircraft) accidents.

Contents

A slain officer may receive a police funeral, including an honour guard and flag-draped casket, [3] and be officially mourned in the New Zealand House of Representatives. [4] [5] At least four officers have received posthumous honours—Sergeant Stewart Guthrie received the highest Commonwealth civilian decoration, the George Cross. The Lou Grant Award, created in the memory of the police sergeant who died in the 1993 Eagle helicopter mid-air collision, is awarded every second year for excellence and contributions to search and rescue.

The Memorial Wall at the Royal New Zealand Police College lists the names of fallen colleagues, whom the service commemorates annually on Police Remembrance Day. The Police Association together with the New Zealand Police introduced a Police Remembrance Day Pin in 2007, for officers to wear to honour the memory of those slain during the course of duty. The pin combines a Huia tail feather with a police chevron; the Huia bird was sacred in Māori culture, wearing of its feathers restricted to people of high status.

In addition to the human officers, 24 police dogs have died in the line of duty; [6] notably the drowning of Enzo in 2007, [7] Gage, a six-year-old German Shepherd, in 2010. In 2016, 4-year-old German Shepherd Gazza was shot and killed in Porirua.

Officers

   shaded rows denotes when officers were killed in the same incident.

Killed by criminal act

Since 1 September 1886. [8]

QID (Query identity)RankNameAgeHonoursDateCircumstanceLocationNotes
91Constable Neil McLeod 4430 July 1890 Gumdigger Henry Funcke was removed from a steamer and had his rifle confiscated. He became angry and drew a concealed pistol, firing several shots at the departing ship, one of which struck McLeod in the chest Dargaville (Mangawhare Wharf) [9]
674SergeantJohn Patrick Hackett McGuire4214 April 1910Shot in the stomach during a manhunt, and died four days later. John Joseph Powelka was acquitted of murder but received 21 cumulative years for seven charges of burglary Palmerston North [10]
963ConstableJohn Doyle355 February 1913Died in hospital two days after being assaulted by two men in the Albion Hotel Shannon [11]
2030ConstableVivian Dudding326 October 1919Attending a domestic dispute, he was shot in the head and died an hour later Thorndon, Wellington [12]
1764ConstableJames Dorgan3727 August 1921Shot investigating a break-in, the killer was never found Timaru [13]
1582ConstableThomas Heeps5021 October 1934Died in Waikato Hospital after being shot twice by Henare Hona, the subject of a manhunt Morrinsville (nearby) [14]
2209SergeantWilliam Cooper438 October 1941Shot by farmer Stanley Graham, who they were attempting to apprehend after he refused to surrender firearms Hokitika (nearby) [15]
3526ConstableFrederick William Jordan26 [16]
3039ConstablePercy Campbell Tulloch35 [17]
2364Constable Edward Mark Best 42 [18]
36Traffic OfficerJohn Kehoe2431 January 1949Shot several times by Richard Angus McGill, who he had stopped for speeding with his motorcycle Whakatāne [19]
2691SergeantWilliam Shore Hughes4827 May 1951Shot dead during a domestic dispute by Noema Raana Rika Ōtaki [20]
Detective InspectorWallace Chalmers46 QPM 6 January 1963Shot dead by Victor George Wasmuth while attending a shooting Waitākere Ranges [21]
2839Detective SergeantNeville Wilson Power25 QPM [22]
4321ConstableJames Thomas Richardson243 February 1963Both shot while sitting in police car, after responding to a domestic dispute Lower Hutt [23]
3809ConstableBrian Leslie Schultz21 [24]
4699ConstableDonald Richard Stokes2315 August 1966Beaten by escaping prisoners at Dunedin police station, died later in hospital Dunedin [25]
2950SergeantGilbert Peter Arcus444 February 1970Assaulted by a mentally disturbed woman he was trying to placate, fell and struck his head on the ground, dying from the injury an hour later Tauranga [26]
5052ConstablePeter William Murphy2125 September 1976Shot attending a break-in at a sports shop Invercargill [27]
1395Traffic OfficerBarry Yorston Gibson3213 June 1977Assaulted by a motorist and died in hospital from head injuries New Plymouth [28]
1351Traffic OfficerRobin James Dudding44 GM 7 April 1986Taken hostage and later shot dead by Ross Kameta Lake Rotoiti, Bay of Plenty [29] [30]
4601Senior ConstablePeter Morris Umbers35 GM 27 May 1990Bashed to death with his own baton by Richard Thomas Lakich, who he had stopped Ranfurly (nearby) [31]
5024SergeantStewart Guthrie41 GC 13 November 1990Shot in the head after encountering and firing a warning shot at spree killer David Gray during the Aramoana massacre Aramoana [32]
D717ConstableGlenn Arthur McKibben2521 April 1996Shot standing beside his police car by former soldier Terence Thompson, who was later shot dead by Armed Offenders Squad. Flaxmere, Hastings [33] [34]
G083ConstableLester Murray Stretch3827 May 1999Bashed to death by Carlos Namana, a burglar he had followed from a break-in Mangakino [35] [36]
F272Detective ConstableDuncan Taylor39 NZBM 5 July 2002Died instantly after being shot by teenager Daniel Luff, his partner escaped wounded Rongotea, Manawatū [37] [38] [39]
G092SergeantDerek Wootton5211 July 2008Struck by a carjacked vehicle with a hostage fleeing police while laying road spikes Titahi Bay [35] [40] [41]
I417SergeantDon Wilkinson4711 September 2008Disturbed while attempting to secretly fix a tracking device to a car, received several shots from a .22 air rifle, one fatally through the chest Māngere [42] [43]
5766Senior ConstableLeonard Snee537 May 2009Shot executing a cannabis search warrant by former territorial soldier Jan Molenaar, other officers and a member of the public received gunshot wounds Napier [44]
MHIH84Constable Matthew Dennis Hunt 2819 June 2020Shot dead during a routine traffic stop. Another officer was also shot and seriously injured. A civilian was struck and injured as the two suspects fled the scene. Massey [45] [46] [47] [48] [49]

Killed by accident

BadgeRankNameAgeHonoursDateCircumstanceLocationNotes
ConstableFitzgerald26 September 1851Drowned when a boat making for the Lady Nugent capsized Lyttelton Harbour [50] [51]
Sergeant-MajorEdward John Garvey30 Légion d'honneur 25 September 1863Died in a snowstorm on his way to inspect mine diggings near Naseby Kakanui Range [52] [53] [54]
ConstableJohn Duncan28 May 1865Drowned travelling in a punt to investigate a burglary Kaniere (nearby)[ citation needed ]
ConstableJames Robinson13 November 1891Fell and struck head on iron bar at police station Westport [55] [56] [57]
ConstableDenis Mahoneyc. 3828 March 1914Killed by an explosion, together with 7 other volunteers, while fighting a fire at the Benge and Pratt store. Upper Hutt [58]
ConstableA J Dillonc. 3218 January 1916Drowned with nurse Regan who he was attempting to save West Coast [59]
ConstableAdam George Begg2624 February 1926Killed by a passing train while searching the Parnell Tunnel for an escaped prisoner. Parnell, Auckland [60] [61]
ConstableJames ShieldsOctober 1933Car was hit by the Rotorua Express at a railway crossing Huntly (nearby)[ citation needed ]
ConstableCharles WilliamsAugust 1935Drowned attempting to save a woman who fell from the Hamilton Railway Bridge Waikato River [ citation needed ]
ConstableW J Watt10 August 1939Car went off Elephant Hill bridge, returning to a shooting investigation, Constable Black seriously injured Waimate (nearby) [62]
191ConstableCecil Edgar Orr3824 February 1942Struck and killed by a train while searching for property along the railway tracks Parnell [63]
ConstableAlan Robert Liddell2226 February 1976Drowned while conducting an investigation with two colleagues, into a drowning on the river 17 days earlier Grey River [64]
ConstableGreg Rowe231 April 1978Drowned after leg became entangled in a rope and fell overboard from Lady Elizabeth II Palliser Bay (nearby) [65] [66]
Senior SergeantPhillip William "Phil" Ward392 July 1986Drowned when police launch Lady Elizabeth II capsized during a storm, two other officers rescued by Peter Button Wellington Harbour [67]
ConstableGlenn Andrews Hughes28
DetectiveAnthony Raymond "Tony" Harrod4317 December 1990Fell from helicopter sling during cannabis recovery operation Waitotara Valley, Taranaki [68] [69]
SergeantLindsay Eion "Lou" Grant3926 November 1993Police helicopter Eagle collided mid-air with a Piper Archer traffic spotting aircraft. Two civilians also died. Auckland CBD [70]
ConstableAlastair Alan Sampson27
Senior ConstablePhillip Anthony "Piripi" Wipatene5515 July 2004Patrol car collided with another car on the Oakura Bridge New Plymouth (14 km southwest) [71]
DetectiveTravis Hughes3729 January 2005 Cessna 172 aircraft crashed while on cannabis reconnaissance, civilian pilot also died Gibbston Valley, Central Otago [72] [73]
Police EmployeePamela (Pam) Brien5422 February 2011Killed in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Pamela Brien was at a work-related meeting related to her job in the child protection unit of the Christchurch detachment when the earthquake hit, resulting in the CTV Building she was in collapsing. Christchurch [74]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "'Routine' operation which left policeman dead not considered high risk". The New Zealand Herald . 11 September 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  2. ↑ "Three officers shot at, one killed – report". The New Zealand Herald . 7 May 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  3. ↑ "Wellington-Funeral of Sergeant Derek Wootton". NZPA Images. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  4. ↑ "Motions — New Zealand Police—Death of Sergeant Derek Wootton". Hansard. New Zealand Parliament. 22 July 2008. p. 17231. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  5. ↑ "Motions — New Zealand Police—Death of Sergeant Don Wilkinson". Hansard. New Zealand Parliament. 11 September 2008. p. 18811. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  6. ↑ Booker, Jarrod (13 July 2010). "Six-year-old Gage 23rd dog to die on duty". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "Man jailed for killing police dog". The New Zealand Herald . 15 January 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  8. ↑ Details mostly from the Memorial Archived 25 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine webpage of the New Zealand police. Accessed 2008-10-27.
  9. ↑ "Neil McLeod". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 10 May 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  10. ↑ "John McGuire". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  11. ↑ "John Doyle". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  12. ↑ "Vivian Dudding". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  13. ↑ "James Dorgan". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  14. ↑ "Thomas Heeps". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  15. ↑ "William Cooper". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  16. ↑ "Frederick Jordan". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  17. ↑ "Percy Tulloch". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  18. ↑ "Edward Best". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  19. ↑ "John Kehoe". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  20. ↑ "William Hughes". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  21. ↑ "Wallace Chalmers". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  22. ↑ "Neville Power". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  23. ↑ "James Richardson". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  24. ↑ "Brian Schultz". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  25. ↑ "Donald Stokes". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  26. ↑ "Gilbert Arcus". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  27. ↑ "Peter Murphy". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  28. ↑ "Barry Gibson". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  29. ↑ "No. 51059". The London Gazette . 11 September 1987. p. 11343.
  30. ↑ "Robin Dudding". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  31. ↑ "Peter Umbers". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  32. ↑ "Stewart Guthrie". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  33. ↑ "Glenn McKibben". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  34. ↑ Google cache [ dead link ]
  35. 1 2 Gay, Edward and NZPA (16 July 2008). "Police form guard of honour for fallen officer". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  36. ↑ "Lester Stretch". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  37. ↑ "Heroes among us: Our top kiwis named for NZ Bravery Awards". The New Zealand Herald . 29 January 2005. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  38. ↑ "Duncan Taylor". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  39. ↑ "Remembering Duncan". 8 July 2012.
  40. ↑ "NZ policeman killed by stolen car". SBS Australia. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  41. ↑ "Derek Wootton". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  42. ↑ Milne, Rebecca (14 September 2008). "Single shot among many killed officer". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  43. ↑ "Don Wilkinson". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  44. ↑ "Police name officer shot dead". The New Zealand Herald . 7 May 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009. http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/remembrance-day-2014.pdf
  45. ↑ Williams, Caroline (20 June 2020). "Auckland police shooting: Officer killed identified by police". Stuff.
  46. ↑ "Massey, west Auckland shooting: Offender still on the loose, police officer confirmed dead – Police Commissioner". Newshub. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  47. ↑ "Man charged with murder after police officer killed in Auckland". Newshub. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  48. ↑ "UPDATE: Commissioner's statement following Massey incident". New Zealand Police. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  49. ↑ "Moving haka for slain police officer Constable Matthew Hunt at Eden Park". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  50. ↑ "News and Notes". Lyttelton Times . 27 September 1851.
  51. ↑ "Canterbury". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Vol. X, no. 502. 18 October 1851. p. 134. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  52. ↑ ( McGill 1992 , p. 247)
  53. ↑ "News of the Week". Otago Witness . No. 643. 26 March 1864. p. 13. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  54. ↑ "Cemetery Details". Dunedin City Council. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  55. ↑ ( Hill 1995 , p. 11)
  56. ↑ "The Grey River Argus". Vol. XXXII, no. 7376. 1 June 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  57. ↑ "Untitled". Evening Post . Vol. XLII, no. 118. 14 November 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  58. ↑ "Deadly tragedy to be commemorated". Upper Hutt Leader. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  59. ↑ "Surf Bathing Accident". Grey River Argus. 19 January 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  60. ↑ "A Policeman's Fate". The Evening Post . 24 February 1926. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  61. ↑ "The Inquest". The Evening Post . 24 February 1926. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  62. ↑ "Constable Killed". Otago Daily Times. 11 August 1939.
  63. ↑ "Constable Killed". The New Zealand Herald . 25 February 1942.
  64. ↑ "Policeman drowned". Otago Daily Times . 28 February 1976. pp. 1, 3.
  65. ↑ "Tears for constable 30 years on". Dominion Post . 7 April 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  66. ↑ "Police News" (PDF). New Zealand Police Association. May 2008. p. 97. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  67. ↑ "Police launch capsizes in storm; two dead". Otago Daily Times. 3 July 1986. p. 1.
  68. ↑ "Fall kills policeman". Otago Daily Times. 18 December 1990. p. 2.
  69. ↑ "Investigation 90-012T". Transport Accident Investigation Commission. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  70. ↑ "Investigation 93-020". Transport Accident Investigation Commission. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  71. ↑ "Annual Report year ended 30 June 2005". New Zealand Police. 2005. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  72. ↑ "Plane crash inquest winds up". TVNZ. 31 March 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  73. ↑ "Investigation 05-002". Transport Accident Investigation Commission. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  74. ↑ "Pamela Brien". NZHerald. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Police</span> National police service of New Zealand

The New Zealand Police is the national police service and principal law enforcement agency of New Zealand, responsible for preventing crime, enhancing public safety, bringing offenders to justice, and maintaining public order. With over 15,000 personnel, it is the largest law enforcement agency in New Zealand and, with few exceptions, has primary jurisdiction over the majority of New Zealand criminal law. The New Zealand Police also has responsibility for traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement as well as other key responsibilities including protection of dignitaries, firearms licensing, and matters of national security.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Hawkins (politician)</span> New Zealand politician

George Warren Hawkins is a New Zealand local government politician and former Labour Party Member of Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aramoana massacre</span> 1990 mass shooting in Aramoana, New Zealand

The Aramoana massacre was a mass shooting that occurred on 13 November 1990 in the small seaside township of Aramoana, northeast of Dunedin, New Zealand. Resident David Gray killed 13 people, including local police Sergeant Stewart Guthrie, one of the first responders to the reports of a shooting, after a verbal dispute between Gray and his next-door neighbour. After a careful house-to-house search the next day, police officers led by the Anti-Terrorist Squad located Gray, and shot and injured him as he came out of a house firing from the hip. He died in an ambulance while being transported to hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Offenders Squad</span> Police squad in New Zealand

The Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) are specialist part-time units of the New Zealand Police based around the country available to respond to high risk incidents using specialist tactics and equipment.

The following lists events that happened during 2008 in New Zealand.

The following lists events that happened during 1896 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Broad</span>

Howard George Broad was the thirtieth New Zealand Commissioner of Police, serving from 2006 to 2011. He is a former career police officer, working in uniform and as a detective for eighteen years, before moving into senior roles at the Police National Headquarters in Wellington. As commissioner, he successfully completed rewriting the policing law, the introduction of tasers, and survived a number of controversies in the media.

The Commissioner of Police is the head of the New Zealand Police and the position is currently held by Andrew Coster. The Commissioner is appointed for a term not exceeding five years by the Governor-General, and reports to the Minister of Police. The position combines two functions, that of chief constable in charge of policing and cases, and chief executive responsible for assets and budgeting. In military terms, the rank is equivalent to Lieutenant General.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in New Zealand</span>

The use of cannabis in New Zealand is regulated by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, which makes unauthorised possession of any amount of cannabis a crime. Cannabis is the fourth-most widely used recreational drug in New Zealand, after caffeine, alcohol and tobacco, and the most widely used illicit drug. In 2001 a household survey revealed that 13.4% of New Zealanders aged 15–64 used cannabis. This ranked as the ninth-highest cannabis consumption level in the world.

The Dignitary Protection Service (DPS), previously the Diplomatic Protection Service, is a branch of the New Zealand Police that provides personal security for both national and visiting diplomats and VIPs. National VIPs that receive constant protection are the prime minister and the governor-general, while ministers, members of Parliament, the judiciary and the leader of the Opposition receive protection as needed. Protection is provided both in New Zealand and abroad. Previous visiting VIPs afforded DPS protection have included Tiger Woods during the 2002 New Zealand Open, and FBI Director Robert Mueller. The DPS also patrols foreign embassies, consulates and high commissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Napier shootings</span> 2009 shootings in New Zealand

The Napier shootings took place on 7 May 2009 in Napier, New Zealand. At around 9.30 am, Jan Molenaar fired on police officers executing a cannabis search warrant at his house at 41 Chaucer Road, killing Senior Constable Len Snee and seriously injuring senior constables Bruce Miller and Grant Diver. A neighbour attempting to assist the police was also shot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder of Sophie Elliott</span> 2008 murder case in New Zealand

On 9 January 2008, 22-year-old Sophie Kate Elliott was stabbed to death by ex-boyfriend Clayton Robert Weatherston, in Dunedin, New Zealand. The crime and trial were covered extensively in the news media, and contributed to the government abolishing the partial defence of provocation in cases of murder.

Queenstown Police Station is the largest police station in the Otago Lakes Central Area which is one of three policing areas in the Southern District of the New Zealand Police. The Otago Lakes Central Area headquarters has returned to Queenstown Police Station after a period at Alexandra Police Station. The area of responsibility covered by the Queenstown Police extends from Kingston in the south, to the Crown Range summit in the north, and from Glenorchy and its environs in the west, to the Roaring Meg power station in the Kawarau Gorge in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingrid Leary</span> New Zealand politician

Ingrid Marieke Leary is a New Zealand politician. In 2020 she was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.