A Hawke's Bay police officer has been convicted of dangerous driving after an unauthorised pursuit of a dirt bike at speeds exceeding 140km/h through Hastings before crashing into two parked vehicles, narrowly missing watching residents.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority oversaw an investigation into the officer's conduct during the pursuit, which took place in late 2024.
The officer observed the dirt bike and activated lights and sirens with the intention to pull it over. When the bike rider failed to stop, the officer began a pursuit against the advice of a colleague who cited the dangerous speed and serious risk of injury.
The pursuit continued into a residential area, where the colleague again urged the officer to abandon the chase. The officer ignored the plea and kept chasing the dirt bike until it mounted the footpath and went into a park through a pedestrian entrance.
At that point, the officer braked suddenly, lost control of the patrol car and collided with a parked car, which was shunted forward into another parked vehicle.
A group of neighbours, including small children, had stopped on the footpath near the park to watch the dirt bike and were standing only metres from the collision, directly in front of the parked cars.
Police data showed the patrol car was travelling at 144km/h in the 50km/h residential zone immediately before the crash.
The officer was charged with driving in a dangerous manner, pleaded guilty and was convicted. A subsequent police employment process found the officer had breached multiple police policies as well as the Police Code of Conduct and Values.
Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said police acknowledged the findings and the authority's satisfaction with the police investigation.
"We hold our people to a high standard. The officer remains employed, following a confidential employment process."
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