Minister of Police Judith Collins says it is "not a good look" for a senior officer to refuse to take a breath test at his house.
Ms Collins says she cannot comment because it is an employment issue, but the public expects a lot from the police and the incident is not helpful.
Police say the head of the prosecutions unit, Superintendent Graham Thomas, was within his rights to decline a breath test when officers visited him at his Dunedin home in December.
They say they've investigated the matter and Mr Thomas is now undertaking a period of medical rehabilitation for at least six months while working in an alternative role.
