Waikato district commander reportedly yelled at senior officer in two separate meetings
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has ruled that Waikato district commander Bruce Bird committed bullying after yelling at a senior officer in two senior management meetings.
Bird reportedly berated the officer during meetings in February 2022 and March 2023, and at one point refused to allow the officer to speak, The New Zealand Herald reported.
IPCA described Bird's behaviour as "unreasonable," adding that his management style is "no longer acceptable for NZ Police."
"We note that others in the meeting also believed his behaviour to be unreasonable," IPCA said in its findings as quoted by the NZ Herald.
According to IPCA, Bird's second incident with the senior officer can be considered "bullying" given that it was "repeated behaviour."
"Superintendent Bird's behaviour towards [officer] indicates a style of management that is no longer acceptable for NZ Police," IPCA said as quoted by the NZ Herald.
Positive change needed
The authority added that others in the meeting believed Bird's behaviour to be unreasonable, but it also noted that other senior members did not believe the district commander's behaviour to be inappropriate.
"This highlights a need for further work to be done by police to ensure leaders are effectively coaching and managing staff," IPCA said.
This is Bird's second time of being the subject of an employment and IPCA probe, after he reportedly put pressure on a senior officer in 2017 to prevent his daughter from getting arrested.
Bird has already sought assistance regarding organisational behaviours, according to the authority, which lauded the officer's move.
It also encouraged the police to actively support staff who speak up to positively change the organisation's leadership and management.
