A Popular Police Officer: Senior-Sergeant Ryan Honored

New Zealand Tablet, 13 October 1921, Page 31

A Popular Police Officer: Senior-Sergeant Ryan Honored

Ashburton Courthouse officials and members of the liar met at the Courthouse this morning (says the Ashburton. Guardian, for the 30th ult.)'to formally say farewell to Senior-Sergeant P. Ryan, who was officially on duty today for the last time after 44 years’ service in the police force, all of which time had been spent in the Canterbury district with the exception of three years when he was stationed at Dunedin. Senior-Sergeant Ryan leaves Ashburton at the beginning of next’ week on three months’ extended leave before officially retiring from the force. He then intends settling at Riccarton. -Mr. C. W. Purnell, the senior member of the local Bar, made a presentation, handing Senior-Sergeant Ryan a silver cigarette case, a gold-mounted cigarette holder in silver case, and a gold-mounted fountain pen, as a slight recognition of his valuable services as head of the police in Ashburton. Air. Purnell expressed his own sense of the very fair and able manner in which Senior-Sergeant Ryan bad conducted cases in Court. In a town such as Ashburton the senior-sergeant acted as Crown Prosecutor, and, without wishing to make invidious distinctions, some holding this position pushed their cases too hard and too far, but this was not the case with Sergeant Ryan. It was a matter for regret that so able an officer should be retiring while in the possession of his full health and strength. Mr. Purnell wished Sergeant Ryan the best of health and prosperity in bis well-earned retirement. 1 Air. A. L. Tresidder, the clerk of the Court, spoke for the Court officials, expressing their appreciation of the cordial relations which had always existed between Sergeant Ryan and the Court Staff. Sergeant Ryan had always worked with cheerfulness and tact, and the best wishes of the Court officials would follow him into his retirement. Senior-Sergeant' Ryan thanked those present for their kindly wishes and for the gifts that accompanied them. His relations with the staff and the members of the Bar had always been most cordial. He had always.been treated by the members of the Bar with the greatest kindness. It meant more to him than might be thought to leave the sphere of his duty after 44 years and to hear the kindly sentiments expressed towards him. The gifts accompanying them would be valued for what they represented. Before the ordinary business of the Magistrate’s Court opened, Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., said he could not allow the occasion to pass without taking note of the record of Senior-Sergeant Ryan. He had had 44 years of absolutely unblemished record in the police force, and when the discipline of the force was remembered, that was something to be proud of. Senior-Sergeant Ryan had tempered justice with mercy, and he had always been a. most just prosecutor. In bidding him farewell Mr. Mosley expressed his regret at seeing so familiar a face disappear, and wished the Sergeant many years of hapiness and prosperity . Air. C. "W. Purnell endorsed these remarks, SeniorSergeant Ryan making fitting acknowledgment.