2 May 2014

Top cop quits to get on with his life

6:55 pm on 2 May 2014

A senior police officer cleared of a sex complaint has resigned and will no longer face an employment investigation.

Detective Inspector Mark Gutry had been stood down from duties after a woman approached police and made a complaint of a sexual nature.

Detective Inspector Mark Gutry

Detective Inspector Mark Gutry Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Mr Gutry's lawyer Todd Simmonds confirmed his client had resigned from police on Friday afternoon.

Mr Gutry declined to say whether or not he received a severence package.

Mr Simmonds said his client realised that whatever the outcome of the employment proceedings, his position with the police had been badly affected by the allegations.

He said Mr Gutry chose to resign so that he could move on with his life and the terms on which he has left are confidential.

Previously, after a four month inquiry said there was insufficient evidence to lay charges, Mr Simmonds had said his client was looking forward to returning to work as soon as possible.

Work investigation scuppered

Police called in detectives from Wellington to investigate the complaint against Mr Gutry in July 2013.

They announced last month that they would not be laying criminal charges but said a code of conduct investigation would take place.

Mr Gutry's resignation meant that would not now take place.

As a detective, Mr Gutry oversaw a number of high profile cases, most recently the Rae Portman murder investigation.

Shannon Parker, who is the president of the Police Corruption Association, said in April that the complaint was taken seriously and the police carried out a long investigation.

Ms Parker helped the complainant take her case to the authorities in June last year, and said she expected the detective to lose his job.

But Counties Manukau District Commander John Tims said at the time that detectives from Wellington were called in and found that there was insufficient evidence to lay any charges.

The case was reviewed by the Wellington Crown Solicitor.