A DETECTIVE DISMISSED

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1927, Page 1

A DETECTIVE DISMISSED

STATEMENT BY THE OFFICER. (BY TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, May 21. Recently C. A, Lambert, for many years a member of the police force in Auckland was discharged for a breach of the regulations. It was alleged against him that for some time be Intel been making demands for money from a man from whom be had already secured a conviction. A police enquiry was held and Detective Lambert was dismissed. '' Lambert made a statement yesterday; he said several charges were brought against him and to one ho pleaded guilty on the advice of counsel. He had fallen into a single trap and had been caught immediately afterwards with marked notes in his possession, unci on the strength of this and the evidence of a man previously convicted for dishonesty Lambert had been dismissed from the force. /. The man was 40, said Lambert, and not a youth as had been stated in July last. This man had been implicated in the theft of a hat and Lambert was engaged on the inquiries. After the ease was disposed pf, Lambert says he had no further dealings with the man, but had seen him on a number of occasions anil had even spoken to him when passing in the street. In March the man saw Lambert in Queen St. and asked him to cal! at his house on a named date. Lumber 1 did not go to see him nor did lie communicate with him on March Iltli. Lambert was in the vicinity of the Ferry Buildings make enquiries in connection with another case, when the man came up to him, said a few words and thrust some bank notes into Lambert’s bands and made off. The Detective did not realise what bad happened, but before be bad time to do anything, be was accosted by a superior officer, ft was then found be bad three marked £1 notes in bis possession. The same man brought other charges against him, some of which were dismissed, while on others Lambert was convicted. In these, says Lambert, "the word of the man convicted for tlfeft, was preferred to that of the police officer with 171 years’ service. One of the allegations made was broken down by another police officer. Lambert was appointed a detective in 1918, and handed many large cases and bad been instrumental in bringing some notorious criminals to trial. In 1922, during the execution of his duty, lie was shot in the abdomen by a burglar. Ho was next on the list for promotion to the rank of Detective Sergeant.