Policemen win seats on councils

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33665, 15 October 1974, Page 1

Policemen win seats on councils

A senior-serges a constable in I law cil seats in the loca Senior-Sergeant I). T. Crowe is one of two new Timaru City councillors, and he had the thirdhighest number of votes among the 16 candidates i for the 12 scats. His nomination for the nonpolitical council was put forward with the approval of the Commissioner of Police (Sir Angus Sharp). In Hawera, Constable D. W. Duggan was elected to jthe Hawera Borough Council. He is the first police officer to win election to a Taranaki local body. Until recently, it was I thought that serving police-, I men were barred from standing for territorial local bodies under section 31 of the' Police Act, 1958, the Press Association reports This was discussed be. ween Senior-sergeatn Crowe and the commander of the Timaru police district (Superintendent B. K. Dean) They agreed that they could see no bar, so long as there was no political party affiliation. Representations were made to Sir Angus Sharp, who ap-| proved the nomination. “Aloof too long” "For far too long, I believe,! the police have remained aloof or isolated from the activities of the community. I feel we have something to contribute in this field, and the election of Mr Crowej vindicates my view,” Mr iDean said. ' "The success the police achieve as a unit is in no Ismail way attributable to the support available from the public. This respect and

■ant in Timaru and icra have won coun--11 body elections. . assistance is gained tnoi* ■ through the public knowing rather than solely through ths ■ uniform image.” , Senior-Sergeant Crowe’S election to the council would make the public more aware of the problems confronting the p. lice, Mr Dean said. “1 know that Mr Crowe’s : venture into local govern- , ment administration will be a forerunner of many other policemen around the country ’ doing likewise. In the long run. everyone benefits front 1 this sort of arrangement." Mr Dean said. lopped poll ■| At Temuka. a former police constable. Mr G. D Beardslev, ■ was elected to the Temuka Borough Council on Saturday. ■ He topped the poll.