Royal Honour recognises victim focus and investigation leadership

A New Zealand Police career marked by outstanding leadership in investigations and an unwavering commitment to supporting victims in an empathetic way has resulted in former Detective Superintendent Steve Vaughan being recognised with a Royal Honour in the 2016 New Year Honours list released today.

Mr Vaughan, who retired from police in July 2014 as National Manager: Intelligence, becomes an Officer of theNew Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his services to New Zealand Police and the community.

He is now the Assistant General Manager of Intelligence and Risk at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said he was very pleased that Mr Vaughan’s contribution to policing and community safety has been recognised with the award.

“Steve’s had a stellar career in police, working in a variety of challenging and complex operational and investigative roles during his 33 years service,” Commissioner Bush said. “His investigative ability, leadership and empathetic approach with victims played a key role in contemporary policing and the way in which we work with and support victims.”

Commissioner Bush said the depth and breadth of Mr Vaughan’s skills were evident as the second in charge of Operation Austin, the inquiry into historic sexual allegations that ran from 2004 to 2008. This earned him one of two Commissioner’s Silver Merit Awards, to go alongside a Bronze Merit for the investigation into the vicious rape of an elderly woman, and a Gold Merit Award for bravery after he was shot and wounded in the ankle during the 1990 Aramoana operation.

Mr Vaughan was deployed from Wellington to Aramoana as a member of the then Anti Terrorist Squad (now Special Tactics Group). While in hospital he met one of the wounded survivors from the tragedy, nine year old Chiquita Holden.

Chiquita’s father Garry and older sister Jasmine were among the 13 people killed in David Gray’s rampage.

For more than ten years Mr Vaughan provided training to Victim Support homicide support workers. Chiquita Holden is herself now the South Island homicide specialist for Victim Support.

Commissioner Bush also congratulated Feilding man Mr Tony Groome who becomes a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (MNZM).

Mr Groome’s award, for services to Search and Rescue, has been a longstanding voluntary member of LandSAR and has worked alongsidepolice in the management of numerous training exercises and real time search and rescue missions in the Manawatu.

ENDS

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