POLICE PROMOTIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 4057, 15 December 1931, Page 34

POLICE PROMOTIONS

INSPECTOR CUMMINGS. NEW ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER. Inspector James Cummings, . who has been stationed at Dunedin for the past three years, has received notice of hie transfer to the commissioner's office, Wellington, where he will take up his new duties early in January. Mr Cummings, who is 45 years of age, was born and educated at Lawrence. He served five years with Messrs Potts brothers, farmers, of Lawrence, and later joined the permanent artillery at Wellington. where he served until he joined the Police Force in 1907. After doing street and office duty in Wellington he was later transferred to Auckland with the rank of acting detective. Three years later he was appointed a detective, and in 1920 a detective sergeant. In December, 1922, he was appointed a senior detective, and in September, 1923, rose to the rank of chief detective at Auckland, holding thia office until the end of 1927. He was then transferred to the uniform branch as senior sergeant, and in 1928 was promoted to the rank of sub-inspector at Dunedin, which rank he held until March, 1930. when he was appointed the first inspector in charge of the Dunedin city and suburbs and the detective branch, the position he now relinquishes on his appointment to head office, Wellington. Inspector Cummings enjoys the unique distinction of being the youngest man in the force to secure the rank of chief detective and also of sub-inspector and inspector, and now. until the latest appointment he is the youngest commissioned officer in the force, no officer having ever attained that rank at his age before.

Among the important cases which Inspector Cummings has handled were two Auckland murder cases during the past 10 years, in connection with each of which the convicted men were hanged. He was responsible for the arrest and conviction of Dennis Gunn in 1921 for the murder of an Auckland suburban postmaster,

and later he brought Samuel Thorn into court for the murder of a farmer at Tuakau. During the last few months Inspector Cummings has been in charge of the investigations and extensive inquiries into the murder of Edward John Blakeway at Karere, and a man has now been committed for trial for this crime. SENIOR SERGEANT CAMERON PROMOTED. Another important change affecting Dunedin is that the position previously occupied by Inspector Cummings will be filled by Senior Sergeant D. Cameron, who is promoted to the rank of sub-in-spector as from January 1. Senior Sergeant Cameron joined the Police Force on October 1, 1904, and served three years in the uniform branch before being appointed to the detective branch and transferred to Napier. He returned to Wellington six months later, where he remained until transferred to Dunedin in November, 1915. He was appointed detective sergeant in 1917. and in April. 1920, was transferred to Wanganui. In July, 1923. he was transferred to Wellington, and the following year was appointed senior detective. He was transferred to Dunedin as chief detective on December 31. 1926, and remained in charge of the detective staff until June 1 last, when he was transferred to the uniform branch as senior sergeant. Senior Sergeant Cameron has shown himself to be a painstaking and capable officer, whose work has always been characterised by thoroughness and attention to detail. NEW SENIOR SERGEANT.

Senior Sergeant H. Martin, of Ashburton, becomes senior sergeant at Dunedin in place of Senior Sergeant Cameron.