Distraught family and neighbours have been left baffled after the fatal attack on 59-year-old Denis Norman Phillips in his Papakura home at the weekend.
A 16-year-old boy, who handed himself into police, has been charged with murder and is due to appear in the Papakura Youth Court this morning.
It is believed the temporary constable - sworn in expressly to work in the police cells as a custody officer - was alone in his single-storey unit when he was attacked.
Detectives were called to the address about 11am on Saturday but did not publicly reveal the dead man was a police employee until yesterday, because South Island family could not be reached.
At a press conference yesterday, Counties-Manukau district commander Superintendent Mike Bush told reporters there was "no evidence ... whatsoever" of a sexual element to the attack.
He would not comment on whether the accused was a relative of Temporary Const Phillips.
"But what I can say is that we're not looking at it as a home invasion-type crime," he said.
Temporary Const Phillips' police colleagues held a service in his honour at the Counties-Manukau station last night.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said it did not appear Temporary Const Phillips was targeted because of his profession.
"The fact that he works for police doesn't appear to be of any relevance, other than creating another interest," he said.
Phillip Gibson, a cousin of Temporary Const Phillips, said last night family were in the dark as to what had happened and had no idea who would want to harm him.
He paid tribute to the cousin he last saw at a family 80th birthday party a month ago.
Mr Gibson said his cousin, who worked in the military and served overseas before joining the police 12 years ago, surprised everyone by standing up and speaking in Maori.
"He got up and spoke some and gave us all a shock ... but it was nice, it was good," Mr Gibson said.
The police staffer was known in the neighbourhood for helping those in need, he said.
"... the young ones and the older people, taking them in and giving them a feed, or something."
Family, friends and neighbours - "just beside themselves" - attended a karakia at the house yesterday.
Supt Bush said the death was "a tragedy for all those involved".
"His company was enjoyed by his fellow staff members."
However, Supt Bush said he was restricted on what he could say further because of rules surrounding youth offending.
Neighbours were in shock at the death of a man who "lived life by his actions and not by making a noise".
John Watson said Mr Phillips had lived on the street for at least 10 years and was a "very good person" who could be counted on.
"He was a good guy..."
