Mr W.F. Hall Retires From Police

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30316, 17 December 1963, Page 19

Mr W.F. Hall Retires From Police

A policeman who served 22 years in the force without making an arrest and never wearing a uniform, but who was thought very .highly of by his superiors, has retired from the New Zealand Police.

"My one regret is that I did not join the force earlier." said Mr W. F. Hall last evening.

Over the last 15 years. Mr Hall met hundreds of criminals and thousands of members of the public without leaving the Criminal Investigation Branch inquiry office at the Christchurch Central Police Station.

Mr Hall joined the police early in World War II and was attached to the C. 1.8. as a driver. After seven years, he was made clerk in the C. 1.8. office. He came to know and recognise hundreds of criminals. H.s memory of both •he appearance of criminals and their customary methods of doing a “job” proved of great value to other members of the C. 1.8. staff. At one stage or another, all the files on inquiries the detectives were engaged on passed through Mr Hall's hands, so that it was second nature for detectives, new

to the job or of great experience. to "ask Wally” if they had a doubt about some aspect c. the inquiry. Dealings With Public

But Mr Hall’s greatest value to the force was his dealings with the public. Persons with obsessions, fantastic claims, or grievances; criminals who "<136 it in for the police"; men and women who considered they had been defrauded “Wally" knew them all. listened to them, and never betrayed impatience. The great thing is to have them more or less happy, and <xrta.nly satisfied before they leave. Otherwise. they go away with a grudge against the force." Mr Hall said "I suppose about one-third of the complaints made by members of the public relate to civil, no. criminal matters The greet thing is to get the question straightened out in the complainant’s mind. Often I referred them to Hereford street the street of lawyers “My superiors gave me wonderful support. They never complained I was wasting time, although it often took a fair while to send away in a reasonable frame of m.nd a person who came in in a towering rage. ”1 think that every Government department wants patient persons on the public desks and telephones, particu-

larly the Police Department, because it has a lot of power Most of the general public! judge the departments by the ’front’ men and women. ’’They seldom see the, others. It is no use having! a team of hard-working, honest detectives, with good officers, when the ‘front’ man is rude and abusive to inquirers. The person who receives initial rudeness or offhandedness does not forget it, and tends to judge the department by it, no matter whait happens subsequently,” Mr Hall said. His courtesy, helpfulness, and good-natured advice extended to newly-fledged solicitors and young reporters. Mr Hall’s health during the last two years has deteniorated. The respect and affection in which he is held by his former colleagues was shown when working parties organised by’ the Christchurch Police Social Club put his garden in order for him. "Wally Hall has been worth his weight in gold to the force as a public relations officer, in the best sense of that term, before paid public relations officers were thought of in New Zealand." a police officer said yesterday.