Police say sorry to former inspector

A senior police commander who racked up driving infringements prior to his sudden departure has received an apology from his bosses.

Police acknowledge they ‘‘could have done better’’ when issuing him his longservice award and on other occasions.

Inspector Bruce Horne, area commander of Rotorua until his retirement at the end of last year, claims police used the driving incidents to get rid of him.

The Sunday Star-Times first revealed last October that Horne was in trouble over his driving. It has since been established that in a two-year period he ran up infringements for speeding, using a cellphone and impeding traffic.

He appeared in court in Whakatane in December and retired at the end of that month. Sources said Horne was upset that police didn’t follow procedure before issuing the final infringement notice.

He was also angry that his longservice awards were sent in the post, rather than presented.

Police confirmed in a statement that he had received an apology.

‘‘We accepted that we could have done better,’’ a spokesperson said. The statement acknowledged the ‘‘good work Bruce has done over 35 years in police’’.

Horne said in a statement he appreciated that Deputy Commissioner Viv Rickard had listened to his concerns and met with him and his wife to apologise.

Horne said he’d led Rotorua police through the commission of inquiry into police culture following Louise Nicholas’ rape allegations and ‘‘found great reward in helping rebuild the confidence of the community’’.