Cops justified in shots

Waikato police officers were justified in firing shots at a man who fired on them with a semiautomatic on a rural Morrinsville road last year, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has ruled. Rollie James Heke pleaded guilty at the High Court in Hamilton earlier this year to one representative charge of using a firearm against law enforcement officers for the August 13 incident last year. Heke had been on the run for a year when he was spotted speeding in a red Holden by a police officer on patrol in the Waikato town. After driving erratically he pulled the Holden over on Kuranui Rd where he got out of the car, brandishing what looked like an AK47 militiary-style semi-automatic rifle. Heke fired shots at the officer sitting in his patrol car. The police officer had to duck below the dash as he slammed hiscar into reverse. He was unarmed. One of the bullets fired by Heke hit the police car. As the shots continued the officer was forced to retreat into a nearby farm driveway. Two other officers nearby responded and started exchanging fire using their Glock pistols before retreating on foot. By then Heke’s passengers had fled from the gunfight. No-one was hurt during the encounter but Heke escaped. He was found 12 days later in a house in Kaingaroa and arrested.