A NEW SUB-INSPECTOR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16826, 13 December 1928, Page 12

A NEW SUB-INSPECTOR

SENIOR-SERGEANT CUMMINGS

Seiiior-tSergcant J. Cummings, who completed 17 years' of service in the Auckland police force last week, has has been promoted to the oftice of sub-inspector at Dunedin. Mr. Cummings is just 40 years of age and he will have the distinction of being the youngest commissioned member of the force in the Dominion. In his service in botli the detective and uniform branches he has achieved a reputation as a most efficient and fair officer. His career since his association with the force in 1906 has bce.li marked by early promotions. He gahied prominence through his detective work in the Ponsonby and Pukckawa murder cases in 1920. At the conclusion of the Ponsonby trial Mr. Justice Chapman said: "I consider the conduct of the police has called for my highest commendation. They have shown the greatest diligence, and at the same time the most absolute fairness to the prisoner." The same judge, after -the other trial, said those who had followed the case in cqurt perhaps were the only ones who fully realised the amount qtf work and industry that had "been applied. He felt himself under t,he obligation to mention particularly the name of Detective-Sergeant. Cummings, not only for the able, manner in Which he had conducted the investigations, but also for his scrupulous fairness. i >

Mr. Cummings was promoted to senior detective in J 922, and in Julie, 1923, he became chief detective, the youngest holding that rank' in New Zealand. Last December Mr. Cummings was transferred to the uniform branch for experience to equip him for the • commissioned rank to which he is now promoted. '