Officers and staff who died as a direct result of duty

Died when a Cessna 172 aircraft crashed in the Gibbston Valley during a routine cannabis reconnaissance mission.

Died in a helicopter crash on Mt Karioi near Raglan en route to test radio repeater stations.

Died when the Police helicopter Eagle collided with a fixed wing aircraft over the Auckland motorway.

Drowned when the police launch Lady Elizabeth II sank in heavy seas off Barrett’s reef at the entrance to Wellington harbour.

Died as result of injuries received in a motor vehicle crash on SH2 south of Dannevirke. 

On his patrol motorcycle he collided with another vehicle on the corner of Nelson Street and the Esplanade, Petone. He died in Wellington hospital of his injuries. Aged 22.

Responding to a vehicle crash on his motorcycle with red light flashing he crashed into a car that pulled out into his path and suffered severe head injury. Aged 21.

A sports car pulled into his path, he was thrown from his motorcycle on impact and suffered severe head injury. Aged 23.

Collision with a truck on the Johnsonville – Porirua motorway while riding his patrol motorcycle. Aged 21.

Died after contracting pneumonia while searching for two offenders in adverse field conditions.

Head-on collision with a truck that crossed the centre-line near Waikaia. Aged 34.

Died as a result of injuries received when the police car in which he was a passenger crashed on Great North Road, Western Springs.

Drowned while guarding a wreck at Castlecliff.

Died as a result of injuries received in a motor vehicle crash at Elephant Hill Creek, South Canterbury. 

Died of injuries received in a motorbike crash near Paihia.

Died after being struck by a taxi as he stepped into the road to stop a truck.

Died from injuries received when the bike he was riding was hit by a taxi.

Born: c1878
Years as a Traffic Inspector: six
Age: 46
Married with one son

William had worked for a number of years for the Wellington City Corporation, and transferred to traffic enforcement duties in 1918.

On Saturday evening, 26 April, the weather was rainy and windy. It had been a race day and a steady stream of cars had left the Trentham Race Course and were heading back to Wellington City via the Hutt Road (now the Old Hutt Road). A new strip of bitumen had been laid close to the Kaiwharawhara turn-off towards Ngaio, and a number of drivers were treating it like a race strip. Traffic Inspector Cross was on point duty, to slow the traffic. At dusk the traffic was still heavy, and he stood on the crown of the road. He tried to slow a speeding car by signalling to the driver, but the car struck him, leaving him severely injured with broken legs and a fractured skull.

The car stopped some metres up the road, the driver and passengers walked back to look at William, then returned to the car and drove away before police or ambulance arrived. The driver was heard to say “It wasn’t my fault!” William died three days later in Wellington Hospital.

The driver of the car consulted with his lawyer on the Monday morning after the crash. When the three passengers were interviewed by police they all stated that the driver had been asked multiple times to slow down and stop overtaking cars. They had all seen Traffic Inspector Cross on the road.

After the inquest the case was directed to the Supreme Court and the driver was charged with manslaughter. Despite the passengers all testifying in the Supreme Court concerning the driver’s dangerous driving, a pedestrian witness also gave evidence and stated that Traffic Inspector Cross was hard to see in his dark uniform and with no lights. The manslaughter charge was dismissed.

William Cross was dedicated to road safety and it was noted that he lost his life in the execution of his duty, which had as its aim the safety of the public[1].

John Samuel Doak (Constable No 1787) contracted influenza while performing his duty, aged 36.

Marking 100 years since 14 Police Officers died in the 1918 Influenza Epidemic

As with all influenza pandemics it is the weak, the elderly, the very young and the immune compromised that succumb. Because of the toll that was taken across the country New Zealand Police were required to attend to the dead and enter households where the illness was rife, in place of medical professionals, public health officials and funeral directors. They had a much greater chance of catching the disease.

At a time when the entire Police Force numbered less than 1000 this was a huge percentage and represented a great loss to New Zealand Police.

The Commissioner's annual report of 1919 indicated that at its height as many as 65 members of the Auckland District Police were off sick. The Commissioner paid tribute to the heroic and unselfish work carried out by police throughout the country - aiding the sick, burying the dead and giving assistance to local bodies, relief organisations and medical staff. Most of the police who died are believed to have contracted the disease in the execution of their duty and grants of compassionate allowances were made to their widows and children.

On the 16 December 1918 the Police Commissioner John O’Donovan wrote in the Police Gazette:
“The Honourable the Minister of Justice desires to place on record here his deep regret for the death of these valuable officers, and his sense of the loss the Department has sustained thereby. He also desires to express his admiration of the manner in which all ranks acquitted themselves during the influenza epidemic and thus obtained the approbation of the people in general. I desire to be associated with the Hon. the Minister in this expression of his sentiments.”

John Lachlan McKenzie (Constable No 1814) contracted influenza while performing his duty, aged 35.

Marking 100 years since 14 Police Officers died in the 1918 Influenza Epidemic

As with all influenza pandemics it is the weak, the elderly, the very young and the immune compromised that succumb. Because of the toll that was taken across the country New Zealand Police were required to attend to the dead and enter households where the illness was rife, in place of medical professionals, public health officials and funeral directors. They had a much greater chance of catching the disease.

At a time when the entire Police Force numbered less than 1000 this was a huge percentage and represented a great loss to New Zealand Police.

The Commissioner's annual report of 1919 indicated that at its height as many as 65 members of the Auckland District Police were off sick. The Commissioner paid tribute to the heroic and unselfish work carried out by police throughout the country - aiding the sick, burying the dead and giving assistance to local bodies, relief organisations and medical staff. Most of the police who died are believed to have contracted the disease in the execution of their duty and grants of compassionate allowances were made to their widows and children.

On the 16 December 1918 the Police Commissioner John O’Donovan wrote in the Police Gazette:
“The Honourable the Minister of Justice desires to place on record here his deep regret for the death of these valuable officers, and his sense of the loss the Department has sustained thereby. He also desires to express his admiration of the manner in which all ranks acquitted themselves during the influenza epidemic and thus obtained the approbation of the people in general. I desire to be associated with the Hon. the Minister in this expression of his sentiments.”

John Burrows (Sergeant No 472A) contracted influenza while performing his duty, aged 42.

Marking 100 years since 14 Police Officers died in the 1918 Influenza Epidemic

As with all influenza pandemics it is the weak, the elderly, the very young and the immune compromised that succumb. Because of the toll that was taken across the country New Zealand Police were required to attend to the dead and enter households where the illness was rife, in place of medical professionals, public health officials and funeral directors. They had a much greater chance of catching the disease.

At a time when the entire Police Force numbered less than 1000 this was a huge percentage and represented a great loss to New Zealand Police.

The Commissioner's annual report of 1919 indicated that at its height as many as 65 members of the Auckland District Police were off sick. The Commissioner paid tribute to the heroic and unselfish work carried out by police throughout the country - aiding the sick, burying the dead and giving assistance to local bodies, relief organisations and medical staff. Most of the police who died are believed to have contracted the disease in the execution of their duty and grants of compassionate allowances were made to their widows and children.

On the 16 December 1918 the Police Commissioner John O’Donovan wrote in the Police Gazette:
“The Honourable the Minister of Justice desires to place on record here his deep regret for the death of these valuable officers, and his sense of the loss the Department has sustained thereby. He also desires to express his admiration of the manner in which all ranks acquitted themselves during the influenza epidemic and thus obtained the approbation of the people in general. I desire to be associated with the Hon. the Minister in this expression of his sentiments.”

Ronald Frederick Thomas (Constable No 1820) contracted influenza while performing his duty, aged 27.

Marking 100 years since 14 Police Officers died in the 1918 Influenza Epidemic

As with all influenza pandemics it is the weak, the elderly, the very young and the immune compromised that succumb. Because of the toll that was taken across the country New Zealand Police were required to attend to the dead and enter households where the illness was rife, in place of medical professionals, public health officials and funeral directors. They had a much greater chance of catching the disease.

At a time when the entire Police Force numbered less than 1000 this was a huge percentage and represented a great loss to New Zealand Police.

The Commissioner's annual report of 1919 indicated that at its height as many as 65 members of the Auckland District Police were off sick. The Commissioner paid tribute to the heroic and unselfish work carried out by police throughout the country - aiding the sick, burying the dead and giving assistance to local bodies, relief organisations and medical staff. Most of the police who died are believed to have contracted the disease in the execution of their duty and grants of compassionate allowances were made to their widows and children.

On the 16 December 1918 the Police Commissioner John O’Donovan wrote in the Police Gazette:
“The Honourable the Minister of Justice desires to place on record here his deep regret for the death of these valuable officers, and his sense of the loss the Department has sustained thereby. He also desires to express his admiration of the manner in which all ranks acquitted themselves during the influenza epidemic and thus obtained the approbation of the people in general. I desire to be associated with the Hon. the Minister in this expression of his sentiments.”

John Nash (Constable No 1063) contracted influenza while performing his duty, aged 39.

Marking 100 years since 14 Police Officers died in the 1918 Influenza Epidemic

As with all influenza pandemics it is the weak, the elderly, the very young and the immune compromised that succumb. Because of the toll that was taken across the country New Zealand Police were required to attend to the dead and enter households where the illness was rife, in place of medical professionals, public health officials and funeral directors. They had a much greater chance of catching the disease.

At a time when the entire Police Force numbered less than 1000 this was a huge percentage and represented a great loss to New Zealand Police.

The Commissioner's annual report of 1919 indicated that at its height as many as 65 members of the Auckland District Police were off sick. The Commissioner paid tribute to the heroic and unselfish work carried out by police throughout the country - aiding the sick, burying the dead and giving assistance to local bodies, relief organisations and medical staff. Most of the police who died are believed to have contracted the disease in the execution of their duty and grants of compassionate allowances were made to their widows and children.

On the 16 December 1918 the Police Commissioner John O’Donovan wrote in the Police Gazette:
“The Honourable the Minister of Justice desires to place on record here his deep regret for the death of these valuable officers, and his sense of the loss the Department has sustained thereby. He also desires to express his admiration of the manner in which all ranks acquitted themselves during the influenza epidemic and thus obtained the approbation of the people in general. I desire to be associated with the Hon. the Minister in this expression of his sentiments.”

Dan Hasselberg (Constable No 1996) contracted influenza while performing his duty, aged 27.

Marking 100 years since 14 Police Officers died in the 1918 Influenza Epidemic

As with all influenza pandemics it is the weak, the elderly, the very young and the immune compromised that succumb. Because of the toll that was taken across the country New Zealand Police were required to attend to the dead and enter households where the illness was rife, in place of medical professionals, public health officials and funeral directors. They had a much greater chance of catching the disease.

At a time when the entire Police Force numbered less than 1000 this was a huge percentage and represented a great loss to New Zealand Police.

The Commissioner's annual report of 1919 indicated that at its height as many as 65 members of the Auckland District Police were off sick. The Commissioner paid tribute to the heroic and unselfish work carried out by police throughout the country - aiding the sick, burying the dead and giving assistance to local bodies, relief organisations and medical staff. Most of the police who died are believed to have contracted the disease in the execution of their duty and grants of compassionate allowances were made to their widows and children.

On the 16 December 1918 the Police Commissioner John O’Donovan wrote in the Police Gazette:
“The Honourable the Minister of Justice desires to place on record here his deep regret for the death of these valuable officers, and his sense of the loss the Department has sustained thereby. He also desires to express his admiration of the manner in which all ranks acquitted themselves during the influenza epidemic and thus obtained the approbation of the people in general. I desire to be associated with the Hon. the Minister in this expression of his sentiments.”

Hubert Edgar Hicks (Constable No 1933) contracted influenza while performing his duty, aged 29.

Marking 100 years since 14 Police Officers died in the 1918 Influenza Epidemic

As with all influenza pandemics it is the weak, the elderly, the very young and the immune compromised that succumb. Because of the toll that was taken across the country New Zealand Police were required to attend to the dead and enter households where the illness was rife, in place of medical professionals, public health officials and funeral directors. They had a much greater chance of catching the disease.

At a time when the entire Police Force numbered less than 1000 this was a huge percentage and represented a great loss to New Zealand Police.

The Commissioner's annual report of 1919 indicated that at its height as many as 65 members of the Auckland District Police were off sick. The Commissioner paid tribute to the heroic and unselfish work carried out by police throughout the country - aiding the sick, burying the dead and giving assistance to local bodies, relief organisations and medical staff. Most of the police who died are believed to have contracted the disease in the execution of their duty and grants of compassionate allowances were made to their widows and children.

On the 16 December 1918 the Police Commissioner John O’Donovan wrote in the Police Gazette:
“The Honourable the Minister of Justice desires to place on record here his deep regret for the death of these valuable officers, and his sense of the loss the Department has sustained thereby. He also desires to express his admiration of the manner in which all ranks acquitted themselves during the influenza epidemic and thus obtained the approbation of the people in general. I desire to be associated with the Hon. the Minister in this expression of his sentiments.”

Died while attending a fire at an Upper Hutt store that exploded because of illegally stored gelignite.

Died from an illness contracted on duty.

Drowned while rescuing citizens from floods in Napier.

Died when he fell from a train in the Lyttlelton Tunnel while returning to Wellington after escorting a prisoner to Timaru.

Drowned in the Hokianga Harbour while on police business.

Died from an illness contracted on duty.