Police deputy Rob Pope's uncompromising career

The resignation of top policeman Rob Pope ends the uncompromising career of a "bloody good cop" who worked on some of New Zealand's most famous criminal cases.

Pope, a Christchurch detective who rose through the ranks to become Deputy Police Commissioner, announced he was leaving the force today in the wake of a damning report into police culture.

Pope gained a national public profile in the late 1990s, leading the investigation into the disappearance of Marlborough friends Ben Smart, 21, and Olivia Hope, 17.

Under his leadership Picton man Scott Watson was eventually convicted of their murders in 1999 following an 11-week trial, though Ben and Olivia's bodies were never found.

Newspaper reports at the time credited Pope's systematic approach with solving the case, and though he infuriated media with his "tight-lipped" style, he was later praised for not being prepared to compromise the case by revealing too much.

A 1998 Dominion profile said of Pope that he was "almost universally described by colleagues as a 'bloody good cop', who is excellent at his job".

Olivia Hope's father, Gerald Hope said he was "surprised" to hear Pope had retired.

"Rob dealt with us in a very difficult period of our lives [and] he was a diligent and particularly caring and sensitive cop," Hope said.

"He's obviously reached a point in his career where he's achieved a lot and I think that's a credit to his work as a policeman."

Hope said the fact that his daughter's body was never found was not a reflection on Pope's abilities.

"Rob can't be held responsible for that. He did all he believed he could and should have."

Prior to the Scott Watson case, Pope had already worked on dozens of other high profile crimes, including the case of the "poisoned professor", the murder of retired bank manager Dennis Hinds and the brutal rape and murder of 78-year-old Christchurch woman Catherine Coster.

The case of the professor - one of the most intriguing and difficult in recent history - was one example where even Pope's detective abilities did not result in a prosecution for police.

It involved Christchurch professor David Lloyd, who in 1992 fell mysteriously ill after he left partner Vicky Calder in 1992 to be with another scientist.

Lloyd was left paralysed and blind after falling into a coma, and police twice tried to prosecute Calder for his murder, but she was eventually found not guilty after two trials.

Pope was made National Crime Manager in 2002, then Deputy Commissioner in 2006.

As a manager, his track record was tarnished somewhat when it was revealed last year that Pope had chaired a panel that rewarded a senior policeman with a plum international posting, despite knowing the officer was subject to a critical secret report.

At the time, Pope was tipped as a leading contender for outgoing Police Commissioner Howard Broad's job. But the job went to Peter Marshall.

Pope was not available today to discuss the reasons behind his departure, but said through a written statement he "[had] after careful reflection over the Christmas/New Year period, concluded that in the interests of police it would be appropriate to allow the new administration to determine the way forward as it sees fit".

He said after 36 years of service he still retained his enthusiasm for the force and believed in its qualities, which made it "such a unique and universally respected organisation".

Among the accomplishments he was most proud of during his time as Deputy Commissioner, Pope listed developing the police response to the Commission of Inquiry into Police Misconduct; meeting critical government law and order priorities in relation to serious and organised crime, and drug offending; and designing and establishing a policing excellence programme and framework.

Pope's announcement comes a day after PricewaterhouseCoopers released its third report following the 2007 Commission of Inquiry into police conduct.

The report revealed nepotism, discrimination against women and poor performance among senior staff as problems within the police force.

A spokesman for Police Minister Judith Collins said she would not comment on Pope's announcement.

She acknowledged he had worked very hard in a very tough job, he said. "She wishes him the very best for the future."

- Stuff with The Dominion