Firefighters condemn recruitment of cop fired for assault
A former constable sacked from the police after he subjected his girlfriend to a “sustained” beating was able to train as a firefighter — stunning and angering his soon-to-be colleagues.
In October 2015 Lomitusi Lomi was convicted of injuring with intent to injure after he repeatedly punched, kicked and dragged his girlfriend during the brutal attack.
He was then fired from his job as a constable.
The Herald has learned that Lomi is in the final stages of his training with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) and was set to be posted to a suburban Auckland station to work as a professional firefighter once he graduates.
However according to Fenz employment policy, his conviction means he could never work for the organisation.
After the Herald made inquiries, Fenz stood Lomi down and an investigation is under way as to how he was ever recruited in the first place.
Fenz director of people and capability Brendan Nally said a final decision on Lomi’s employment would be made after the investigation.
“Firefighters are in a position of trust in their communities,” he said. “As such, I expect all our people to display the highest levels of integrity and respect.
“I can confirm that a recruit is currently on stand down while we investigate further.
“The details surrounding his recruitment, interview and vetting process still need to be clarified before any further decisions are made.”
A source said Fenz policy on people with convictions was clear — and should have prevented Lomi from being recruited.
According to the policy a person cannot join Fenz if they have been convicted of a sexual offence, theft, fraud, perjury or other dishonesty offences; or offences punishable by two or more years in prison.
His conviction was punishable by five years in jail.
Even though he did not serve time, the fact that he was convicted of an offence that carried that maximum penalty should have meant he was ineligible.
Furthermore, Fenz security screening policy sets out the rules for screening applicants and is supposed to be applied when appointing a new employee or volunteer.
Staff were calling for all recent recruits to be re-checked given Lomi was able to get so far through the recruitment process.
“It makes you wonder who else has been put in the job who shouldn’t have been,” the source said.
He said many Fenz staff were outraged by Lomi’s recruitment.
Fenz staff felt that Lomi was “not the type of person” to be a firefighter.
“It’s a very, very bad look,” the source said. “Firefighters are the most trusted profession with statutory powers that can put staff into pretty complicated positions — it’s a job for people with integrity and I don’t feel that he has that.”
The source said staff, particularly those working in the station where Lomi was set to work, were outraged.
“The female staff are mortified by it and say they will feel very uncomfortable working with him.”
In 2015 Lomi was blasted by the sentencing judge for his attack.
The court heart that Lomi, then 24, and his girlfriend returned home from a night in town and after an argument he punched her in the head. As she tried to escape he dragged her back on to the bed by her pyjama top.
There were further kicks and punches as she cowered and Lomi ripped off her top before she grabbed her car keys and fled.
After he was convicted and police completed an internal police investigation he was fired.
Lomi was sentenced to 120 hours of community work and 18 months’ intensive supervision.
“Men who use their strength to beat women are, quite frankly, cowards,” said Judge Nevin Dawson at sentencing. “You had the chance to pull back but you didn’t, you continued.”