Fighting crime on sick leave

It seems there’s never a dull moment for Eastern Police District Operations Manager, Inspector Mike O’Leary.

Mike had only been back at work for a couple of weeks after rescuing people from a burning car while off duty when he took the role of forward scene commander in the Napier siege in May.

A youth is helped into a police car by officers attending the incident. Photo: Hawkes Bay Today

Now he’s fighting crime when off work on sick leave.

Mike was on his way home from a pharmacy after collecting medicine last month when he noticed three youths in a couple of cars. He says there seemed to be something suspicious about them.

When he got home, he was walking up his driveway when the cars pulled up.

“After talking to the youths, and identifying myself as police, they wound up their windows and the driver locked the doors,” he says. “But he forgot to lock his own door, so I just reached in and took the keys.”

Mike then called Hastings police, keeping an eye on the youths and controlling his dog, which had come to greet him.

“The youths took off in the other vehicle, but abandoned their car soon after. Dog handlers and Hastings duty staff then got involved so it was definitely a team effort. The boys were caught a little later.”

A firearm, knives, alcohol and other booty were found in one of the cars, which led police to a burglary and a trashed property in Havelock North.