Convicted cop still on payroll after harassment

A constable remains on the police payroll almost three months after he was found guilty of waging a harassment campaign against a member of the public.

Jeremy Buis, 39, has been suspended from active duty since 2015 after he was charged with criminal harassment, threatening to do grievous bodily harm and intentional damage.

He was found guilty in a judge alone trial in April, and lost suppression of his occupation in July.

Police confirmed Buis was still suspended and remained subject to an internal employment investigation. It is understood Buis, who has been an officer for more than a decade, is still being paid.

The salary for new constables is about $56,000.

Daniel Pryde, who was the victim of Buis’ two-and-a-half-year harassment campaign, said he thought it was ‘‘bloody disgusting’’ the constable was still being paid by police. ‘‘I know what he did; I know exactly what he was charged for . . . there is no way he should be employed.’’

Buis’ employment situation should have been sorted immediately after the trial, Pryde said.

Buis spray-painted Pryde’s name and phone number in places where homosexual men hung out around Dunedin. He also sent anonymous text messages to Pryde featuring gay slurs and photos of penises. He was sentenced to 200 hours of community work and ordered to pay emotional harm reparations of $15,000.

After his trial, he was let out through an alternative court exit to avoid his victim and awaiting media.