Superintendents Searle And Bush New Police District Commanders
New Zealand Police National News Release
28 August 2008
Superintendents Searle and Bush new Police District Commanders
New District Commanders for the Waitemata and Counties Manukau Police Districts have been announced this morning by the
Commissioner of Police, Howard Broad.
Mr Broad said that Superintendent Bill Searle would take over the command of Waitemata and Superintendent Mike Bush the
command of Counties Manukau.
Superintendent Searle succeeds Viv Rickard who leaves the role on promotion to Assistant Commissioner of Operations
based in Wellington. Superintendent Bush succeeds Steve Shortland who has been promoted to the role of Assistant
Commissioner Auckland.
"Superintendent Searle comes to the District Commander role with 26 years service and Superintendent Bush with 30 years
experience in New Zealand Police. They will each bring comprehensive knowledge, skills and talents to benefit two of our
largest and most diverse districts," said Mr Broad.
"Today's appointments complete the overall command picture in the Auckland region and ensure we have the right team to
take the organisation forward in the three districts and across the pan-Auckland functions.
"I congratulate the two new appointees and expect them to quickly get to grips with the complexities of managing
policing services in the fastest growing areas of New Zealand," said Mr Broad.
Superintendent Searle:
Graduated from Police College in 1982
Filled various GDB and CIB roles in Auckland City and South Auckland including joining Auckland CIB in 1986 and
designated Detective in 1988.
Uniform Sergeant in South Auckland in 1991
Detective Sergeant in South Auckland 1992
Uniform Senior Sergeant in South Auckland in 1994
Officer in Charge of Otara 1994
Detective Senior Sergeant in Auckland Services District 1997
Area Controller/OC Station Otahuhu/Papatoetoe 2001- 2002
Policing Development Manager at the rank of Inspector (Waikato) 2002- 2005
Promoted to Supt as Staff Officer to the Deputy Commissioner Resource Management 2005 - 2007
First National Manager Community Policing April 2007 to present.
Strong operational background in several districts including being involved in numerous operations including homicide,
sexual violation, complex fraud and other serious crime investigations and other major operations.
Superintendent Bush:
Graduated Police College in 1978
Initially served in Rotorua and then Auckland
First Detective in Kaitaia 1987
1995 Officer in Charge of Interpol, PNHQ at rank of DSS
1997 Officer in Charge CIB North Shore
2002 Crime Manager Bay of Plenty District at rank of Detective Inspector
2003 - 2007 NZ Police Liaison Officer to South East Asia based in Bangkok.
2007 to present - Crime Services Manager Waitemata District
CIB career has seen him undertake numerous investigations including homicides, aggravated robberies, complex fraud and
sexual violation cases, internal disciplinary cases. Led the successful hunt for Paremoremo Prison escapees Arthur
Taylor and Graham Burton and first NZ Police officer and Embassy official into Phuket after the Asian Tsunami.
ENDS