Inspector O’Hara Eight Years At Whangarei

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1939, Page 9

Inspector O’Hara Eight Years At Whangarei

Inspector O’Hara, whose promotion to Superintendent at Christchurch, was announced yesterday, has completed 38 years’ service with the N.Z. Police Force.

He came to Whangarei in July, 1931, and his term of eight years is the longest served by any one inspector in the Whangarei district. Inspector O’Hara replaced SeniorSergeant Harvey. A great athlete in his younger days, Inspector O’Hara is still a keen shot, and up to 18 months ago took active part in cricket matches, being a fast bowler and a steady bat. Both by his physique and his genial, kindly manner, Inspector O’Hara has qualified, to be considered the ideal type of police officer. An Otago boy, Inspector O’Hara has seen service in many parts of New Zealand. In Rotorua he worked with the present Commissioner of Police, and, among other places, he has been stationed at Wellington, Dannevirke and Christchurch.

Pursuing his official duties, Inspector O’Hara has scorned at .all times anything appertaining to taking advantage of those with whom the police have had dealings. In many difficult cases his warm humanitarian principles and his deep knowledge of human nature have assisted materially in serving the ends of justice and making rehabilitation possible. Invariably Inspector O’Hara has adopted the attitude of a helpful counsellor rather than that of an uncompromising official. With congratulations upon his promotion, will be mingled very sincere regret that Mr O’Hara will leave a community in which he is held in the highest esteem.