Detective receives top police honour
A Taupo¯-based detective has received one of Police’s highest honours — a Commissioner’s Commendation — from Police Commissioner Mike Bush.
The Commendation was awarded to Detective Sergeant Andy Livingstone at a Police presentation on Tuesday morning for his professionalism and commitment to Operation Spring, the re-investigation of the Lundy murders.
Mark Lundy, who was originally convicted of the 2001 murders of wife Christine and daughter Amber, had his conviction quashed by the Privy Council in 2013, which ordered a re-trial. Mr Livingstone, who was then based in Palmerston North, was on the investigation team that had to rebuild the case against Lundy. Lundy was found guilty again at the retrial.
Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan of Palmerston North Police, who presented the commendation to Mr Livingstone said staff working on the reinvestigation were under pressure to get it right and praised the work Mr Livingstone had put in.
“The whole case was completely stripped bare, taken back to the bare bones and completely reinvestigated, all the scientific evidence was reevaluated with an end result that we were all very proud of.
“You can be very proud of this commendation and the New Zealand Police share your pride, but the achievement is all yours,” Mr Milligan said.
Accepting the award, Mr Livingstone said while the murders were a tragic event, it was a privilege to work with the family. He said the commendation was a team award and also acknowledged the support of his family during the enquiry and retrial as well as his managers in Palmerston North.