From police poster boy to gun thief: Award-winning constable pocketed $5,000

Summarised by Centrist

A former police constable celebrated as a recruitment success story, awarded a leadership prize and promoted as a role model for young Māori has pleaded guilty to stealing a police-issued Glock pistol and receiving $5,000 after handing it to an associate.

Steven Karehana once described policing as a "selfless sacrifice to put community above self". Less than two years later, he was stealing a firearm from the Whanganui Police Station where he worked.

Karehana received the Commissioner's Leadership Award on graduating from police college in October 2024. He subsequently appeared in a police recruitment campaign, describing how he had overcome earlier brushes with the law to fulfil his ambition of becoming an officer.

"If I can inspire one young Māori boy, then, you know, it's worthwhile," he told NZME.

His advice to aspiring recruits was to "bring your authentic self".

According to the agreed court summary, Karehana had previously asked an associate whether they could "get rid of a gun" if he supplied one.

On 11 February, he removed a Glock worth $1,204 from a police gun safe and concealed it in his backpack.

The associate subsequently sold the weapon for $10,000, with Karehana receiving $5,000. The court heard he had not known the gun would be on-sold.

The firearm was recovered in June. Karehana initially denied wrongdoing but pleaded guilty to theft and unlawful possession of a firearm in Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.

Police have since removed Karehana's appearances from their recruitment videos and his name from a promotional press release.

Karehana, who has reportedly resigned from the force, will be sentenced on 4 December.

Read more at The NZ Herald | 1News

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