Despite his retirement, Cook Islands’ former police commissioner is allowed temporary use of a police vehicle while he moves his belongings and a permanent replacement is being chosen.

Former police chief Turepu James Keenan has been given some “leeway” by the acting Police Commissioner Aka Matapo to continue using a police vehicle.

Keenan’s contract expired on May 31, 2024. He had earlier advised Prime Minister and Police Minister Mark Brown that he was not seeking a second term.

Police media and strategic advisor Trevor Pitt told Cook Islands News that Keenan was given “some leeway (by the Acting Commissioner) with the truck as he was caught short of transport while his own is at the panel beaters.”

“Keenan has been utilising the transport to organise the shifting of his properties from HQ (headquarters), which is expected to be done by this week.”

Deputy Police Commissioner Matapo has been acting as the police chief since the end of May.

Public Service Commissioner Carl Hunter said this week that a decision on advertising the Cook Islands Police Commissioner role will be made in due course.

Hunter said Deputy Police Commissioner Matapo is still the acting Police Commissioner and will remain so to assist with addressing immediate challenges facing Cook Islands Police Service.

PM Brown earlier told Cook Islands News that the role had not been advertised because he had not spoken to the police force.

Last month, Brown said that he wanted to clearly articulate what they wanted as an outcome from the police force.

He also sought collaboration with both the police and the Public Service Commission to ensure any advertising accurately reflects the intended nature of the police force reviews.