A critical breakdown in Police communication and decision-making was directly responsible for a fatal pursuit in Rotorua that claimed the life of 15-year-old Trustis Gear on 31 October 2024, a damning investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has concluded.

The IPCA’s findings reveal a chain of failures, confirming the teenager died following a high-speed chase that should never have been initiated, and certainly should have been abandoned.

The tragic chase began at 11.29am in the Rotorua central city when a first patrol unit signalled for Trustis Gear (referred to as Mr Z in the report) to stop for a traffic check. He made a dangerous maneuver and fled. The first unit correctly decided not to pursue due to the risks.

However, a sergeant in a second unit intervened over the radio, claiming the black car’s occupants might be two teenagers reportedly seen with a firearm seven minutes earlier. This unverified transmission spurred both units to begin the pursuit.

The pursuit, driven by a fatal mistake, lasted one-and-a-half minutes across approximately 3.3 kilometres. Trustis Gear lost control on a corner, crashing the car into a van travelling in the opposite direction. He died at the scene, and all four people involved suffered injuries.

Pursuit Based on Falsehoods

The IPCA investigation confirmed that Trustis Gear and his passenger, Mr Y, were not the individuals involved in the reported firearms incident.

Crucially, before the pursuit even began, Police staff were aware that the reported firearm was actually a toy. This vital information had been broadcast over the Police radio, yet it remained “unbeknown to the pursuing officers”.

The IPCA laid the blame on multiple points of failure:

  • Officers in the second unit relied on incomplete written information in a phone application, which failed to state a CCTV operator had determined the firearm was a toy. This led to the wrongful belief that the car’s occupants were connected to a firearms incident.
  • While officers were justified in initiating the pursuit based on their mistaken belief, the chase should have been stopped by the dispatcher or pursuing officers.
  • Key reasons the pursuit should have been abandoned included significant radio confusion, a lack of commentary on Trustis Gear’s dangerous driving, his clear intention to flee at high speed, and increased risks when he drove down another road.
  • Other officers and the dispatcher knew the firearm was a toy but failed to communicate this information over the radio during the pursuit.

The Authority stated clearly that the failings of multiple members of Police were “significant factors that contributed to this crash”. Furthermore, the Police failed to “appropriately investigate or debrief” the matter, meaning they missed the opportunity to identify the significant communication and decision-making failings.

The IPCA extended its deepest sympathy to the family, acknowledging the death of the young man.


We remind our viewers that Aukaha News previously brought you the story of Trustis Gear’s mother, Kamani Kingi, who spoke out after a mural painted in her son’s memory was defaced in Ngongotahā. Kamani Kingi shared that the mural was intended as a space of healing and love for the community’s rangatahi. The mother previously expressed immense gratitude upon seeing her son’s beautiful smile and spirit reflected in the mural.

Here’s a copy of the IPCA findings and report: Police failures led to fatal pursuit in Rotorua – IPCA full report