The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has found a sergeant indecently assaulted a woman during a car journey two years ago.
IPCA Chair, Judge Colin Doherty. Photo: RNZ / Ben Strang
The IPCA found that the sergeant inappropriately touched a woman and used demeaning and sexualised language while driving her home from a work-related conference in March 2018.
The sergeant, who was a teacher at the Royal New Zealand Police College at the time, met the woman when he was representing police at a judicial noho marae in Turangi. On discovering they lived near each other, they decided it would be convenient to travel back to Wellington together.
Within minutes of beginning the journey, the sergeant began telling the woman personal intimate details and stories that had sexual themes and were demeaning towards women.
The IPCA found the sergeant also indecently assaulted the woman by deliberately brushing her breast several times and touching her bottom.
IPCA chair Judge Colin Doherty said the sergeant's behaviour was not in line with the Police Code of Conduct.
Police conducted a criminal investigation into the matter which concluded there was insufficient evidence to criminally charge the officer in question.
The sergeant has since resigned.