POLICE OFFICER

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21227, 25 September 1940, Page 6

POLICE OFFICER

CITIZENS’ TRIBUTE UNIQUE FUNCTION HELD Following 13 years of service in the detective branch of the Hamilton Police District, Detective-Sergeant A. J. White was paid a striking tribute by business people and citizens of Hamilton last evening when he was the guest of honour at a unique function in the Commercial Hotel, it being the first occasion on which a police officer had been similarly farewelled.

Mr F. J. Farrell, in paying tribute to Mr White’s ability as a police officer, referred to the high regard in w’hich he was held as a citizen and wished him every success in his new sphere of operations. On behalf of the business people and citizens of Hamilton he asked Mr White to accept, on behalf of his wife, a wallet as an appreciation of their esteem. Mr P. Reid joined with Mr Farrell in wishing Mr White every success at Rotorua and congratulated him on his well-earned promotion. Qualities As Citizen Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson, in congratulating Mr White on hi promotion to Rotorua, commented that the function was a unique one in that it was the first time a police officer in Hamilton had been publicly farewelled by the citizens of the town. It was a tribute to his qualities as a citizen that he had been the recipient of such an honour. In returning thanks, Mr White said that during his 13 years in Hamilton he had always endeavoured to do his duty and while doing so he had always enjoyed the co-operation of the public. He had endeavoured to do his duty as fairly as possible and had never flinched from the consequences. They were living in a community in which the majority were endeavouring to live true to their ideals, without fear of molestation, and it was the duty of the police officer to see that state of affairs continued.