Inquiry ditched as cop quits
New complaints surface about former top cop acquitted in kidnapping case.
An internal investigation into the actions of Inspector Hurimoana Dennis has been abandoned because of his decision to retire, while more details are revealed of complaints New South Wales police made about the former senior officer’s conduct.
Dennis and his colleague, Sergeant Vaughan Perry, were last year acquitted of kidnapping charges after a trial in the High Court at Auckland that heard Dennis orchestrated a mock arrest of a 17-year-old, putting him in police custody cells, to break up his alleged sexual relationship with a minor.
The teenager, whose identity is suppressed, was sent to Australia to live with relatives. When he returned to New Zealand, Dennis instructed police to meet him at the plane and escort him to a flight to Sydney.
The teen was allegedly told not to return or he would be charged with statutory rape. The former national police Ma¯ori strategic adviser has strenuously defended himself, saying he had the consent of the teenager’s family and was acting in line with Ma¯ori restorative justice principles.
In December, Detective Superintendent Chris Page told the Herald a police investigation was under way into both officers’ actions but Dennis told the Herald on Sunday his retirement, which he announced after the trial, meant it wouldn’t go ahead.
Police declined to comment on the internal investigation but confirmed Perry was back at work on full duties.
Documents released to the Herald on Sunday reveal allegations by NSW police of Dennis trying to find the teenager so relatives, alleged to have assaulted him, could retrieve him.
A formal statement by Sergeant Scott Lynch of NSW police claimed Dennis tried to paint the assault allegations malicious.
Lynch’s statement says he fielded “concerning” communications from Dennis during which the New Zealand officer asked for the teen’s new address and was “not happy” when declined.
“[The teenager] understandably was scared of [his] family and very concerned about the actions of Inspector Dennis,” the statement says.
“As my inquiries continued I increasingly became concerned in regards to the motives of Inspector Dennis . . . There were real concerns that the information, if released, would be passed on to family and they would again become involved in potentially harming [the teenager].” He later gave evidence in as the trial.
Dennis said the conversation’s focus was to warn police about the influence of the youth’s girlfriend’s family, and to check the teen was safe.
“I didn’t know the [Sydney police] rules at that time and I was speaking on behalf of [the teenager’s] family. I said, ‘Fair enough, can someone just keep sight of him?’ and that was that.”
Assault charges laid against two adults were later dropped by police.
Dennis said there was an “intent” for an internal police conduct investigation “but when I met with the HR manager and looked at all my options, retirement was the best thing for me”.
The Police Conduct Authority has done a separate investigation of Dennis. A spokesperson said a draft report was being prepared.
“I increasingly became concerned in regards to the motives of Inspector Dennis.” Sergeant Scott Lynch