THE POLICE FORCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18626, 23 July 1930, Page 7

THE POLICE FORCE.

NEW COMMISSIONER APPOINTED. Superintendent Wohlmann, of Auckland, has been appointed Police Commissioner. Superintendent Wohlmann is the senior officer of high rank in the police force. He joined the force in 1895, after serving in the New Zealand Permanent Artillery. He was stationed at Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch, and then in Auckland, whence he was transferred in 1907, doing duty in both the clerical and the executive divisions and passing through the various ranks. When sub-inspector he was appointed on November 1, 1920, as Commissioner of Police in' Western Samoa, at the time substitution of civil status for the military regime was made. During his service in Samoa Superintendent Wohlmann remodelled the police force there and brought it up to rank as an efficient service. In February, 1922, he returned to New Zealand as inspector and was given charge of the Waikato police district with headquarters at Hamilton. He remained there until February, 1926, when, as superintendent, he replaced Superintendent C. W. Hendry in Auckland on the latter’s retirement. The new Commissioner has had varied experiences in all ranks. In Samoa he dealt successively with many intricate situations. The trial and conviction of the chiefs of a Chinese secret society for the attempted murder of a Chinese police officer involved prominent local personages and had far-reaching results. So also did the attempt to pervert the course of justice by highly-placed members of the Samoan race. This developed a political situation of much local importance. He had also to deal with the prolonged strike or Sa, illicit smuggling and illicit liquor manufacture. These were so firmly dealt with that the evils practically ceased to exist. To maintain strict disipline and at the same time earn the deep respect and affection of his subordinates in an organisation like the police force is an achievement of which Mr Wohlmann is justly proud. Eminently fair and just to members of the force and also the outside public, he is also an extremely courteous, unassuming gentleman, and confidence is expressed that he will fill the office of Commissioner with credit to himself and to the force.