The locks on a South Canterbury police station were changed after a constable on stress leave refused to hand back his keys, the Employment Court has been told.
Former Canterbury district police commander Superintendent Sandra Manderson returned from her role as police liaison in the United States to give evidence yesterday in an employment case involving former Temuka constable Bruce Ramsay.
Ms Manderson told the hearing in Christchurch that she ordered Mr Ramsay's keys be returned when his access to the Temuka station and firearms lock-up caused concern.
When he refused without a written order, the locks were changed, she said.
Mr Ramsay, who quit the police in 2003 after 16 years as a Temuka constable, said the circumstances amounted to constructive dismissal.
He is seeking compensation, the Timaru Herald reported.
Ms Manderson said she knew Mr Ramsay was on long-term stress leave, but was unsure of his emotional state.
"I was worried for both the constable himself and the community."
Mr Ramsay told the court last week he had lost faith in senior police staff over the handling of his complaint against now-retired Temuka Sergeant Glen Smith in 2002.
He believed Mid-South Canterbury area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin failed to fully investigate because it would show an area supervisor under his watch was "lazy and incompetent".
Ms Manderson said she backed Mr Gaskin's handling of the Smith inquiry.
