9 Apr 2011

Police officer charged after fatal incident

3:18 pm on 9 April 2011

A police officer in Waikato has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, after his vehicle and a motorcyclist collided as he made a U-turn to chase a speeding ute.

An investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority has concluded that the decision to execute a U-turn was highly undesirable.

Paul Brown, 38, died after his motorbike and the patrol car collided east of Te Kauwhata in April 2010.

The authority also found that the officer had not yet begun the pursuit of the speeding vehicle when he attempted the U-turn.

A court date has not yet been set to hear the charges. A Coroner's inquiry is also pending.

The IPCA has found that officers in two other chases resulting in two deaths, complied with pursuits policy.