Obituary: Len Snee a man of great mana
Senior Constable Leonard (Len) Snee, 53, a community constable at Taradale and veteran police officer in his 33rd year of service was a silent achiever, a man of few words who let his actions do the talking.
Len was tragically slain in last month’s armed siege at Napier. His colleagues, Senior Constable Bruce Miller, 40, the community constable at Ahuriri and a 17-year veteran, and Senior Constable Grant Diver, 50, a dog handler with 26 years service, were seriously wounded in the incident. They were executing a routine search warrant for drugs, which went horribly wrong when a gunman opened fire on the unarmed officers as they were leaving the property. Civilian Leonard Holmwood was critically injured trying to disarm the gunman.
For Len’s wife Vicki and their sons Sam and Joe, and the extended Snee family, the unthinkable has happened - as sadly it has on 28 previous occasions for families such as theirs. Their grief must be unimaginable at having such a wonderful man senselessly plucked from their midst. It is the Police family’s worst fear – a nightmare visited on those who serve so selflessly to keep others safe.
Funeral
Thousands came from far and wide to join with Len’s Napier colleagues at the Municipal Theatre to mourn the popular police officer – tragically the third officer to die in the line of duty in the last year.
While Napier mourned, around the country and overseas, Police colleagues stopped to bow their heads for a minute’s silence to remember Len, everyone knowing that in this dangerous job it was very much a case of ‘there but for the grace of God go I.’
Sons Sam and Joe Snee told of a father who was their hero. They captured his essence with the following words: "Many men are strong but unlike our father, few men are capable of having the perfect mix of strength and gentleness."
"All our lives our dad has given us a feeling of security...all our lives we have aspired to be as great a man as our father, and we just hope one day our children can admire us as much as we admired him. Dad we love you."
“A hero every day”
Police Commissioner Howard Broad said Len was: “Not just a hero on the day he died. Len was a hero every day he went to work." Anyone who had the good fortune to cross his path knew the truth of that.
His colleagues knew him as the consummate police officer. Professional in everything he did. Straight but compassionate. He was a man who brought humanity and humility to the uniform, he wore it with pride and honour. He had a good sense of humour and a quiet confidence about him, which gained him the admiration and respect of his colleagues. He had found the perfect balance for a police officer.
“Most complete police officer”
Senior Constable Paul Symonds, a colleague of 21 years, referred to his mentor as “the most complete police officer I know…The manner in which he conducted himself, his fantastic communications skills, and his coolness and unflappable dedication to the job made him so highly respected in the community.” Despite his own serious wounds, Senior Constable Grant Diver was determined to be at his colleague’s funeral.
He was wheeled in on a hospital bed. He wore an Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) beret and he took his place in the police guard of honour, which stretched 200 metres down the street, as Len’s casket was carried from the Municipal Theatre by six police officers where it was met by a rousing haka from around 100 men, including relatives, local school pupils and former All Blacks Norm Hewitt and Buck Shelford.
A mark of Len’s mana was no more in evidence than in the fact that people he had arrested turned out to mourn him. One young women, tears welling in her eyes, spoke of being handcuffed by him and regretting that they had met in such circumstances, and adding that she had since “turned her life around” and had gained a great respect for the Police in the intervening years. Such was the influence of Len Snee – in life and in death.
Passion for rugby
Len loved his rugby. Along with older brother Ben, a former Physical Training Instructor at the Royal New Zealand Police College, he played as a NZ Police rep. He was a hard-running five-eighths who represented Police for 11 years and played in the Combined Services team for eight years. He was named in the “Best ever NZ Police Team” picked from all the NZ Police teams that had played between 1981–1996. He was an excellent and tough player.
In Wellington, he played for Titahi Bay and the Northern United Club. During his playing days for Combined Services, he played alongside All Blacks Wayne (Buck) Shelford, Geoff Old and Stu Conn. TV commentator and former NZ Police and Combined Services team mate, Ken Laban, recalled ‘Lenny’ Snee fondly as a tough (mainly) second five-eighths player.
“When Lenny played in the midfield with Eddie Ellison (Tamati’s father) their tackling was so fierce they used to terrorise Wellington club rugby.” Ex-All Black Jamie Salmon readily admits he never relished being marked by Lenny Snee, because of Len’s fearsome reputation as a hard tackler.
Eastern Police Operations Manager, Inspector Mike O’Leary, described Len as “a cross between Tana Umaga and Dan Carter.” Clearly not someone you would want to be marking.
39 first-class games
Len joined the Napier Technical Club when transferred north, playing 155 games in their senior team. His determination took him into the Hawke’s Bay rep team in 1989, making his debut as a 30-year old. He appeared for Hawke’s Bay in 1990 too. When his premier career finished, he had played 39 first class games and he played for Technical’s third and fourth division sides for another decade, a reflection of his passion for the game. That love of the game was passed on to sons Sam and Joe, who have both played in the Hawke’s Bay.
During a lengthy sporting career, Len also played soccer for Napier Marist and was a scratch golfer at Napier’s Maraenui Golf Club, where he was the second-lowest handicapper. He was the ultimate team player in his sport and his work.
Great respect
He was a highly respected member of the Armed Offenders Squad and had earned a great deal of respect from his General Duties Branch (GDB) colleagues. As an AOS member he was the first on the scene when Constable Glenn McKibbin, 25, was shot next to his patrol car in Flaxmere, Hastings in 1996 Mr McKibbin died in the ambulance.on the way to hospital.
In life, Len Snee touched many lives, quietly and confidently. He made a difference in so many, leading by example. In death, he touched a nation. On a newspaper blog after his death one correspondent wrote: “I never knew you but I am sure that I would have loved and admired you like all your family, friends and work mates. Rest in peace and thank you for helping to make our country safer. You, like all police officers and emergency services that assist in keeping the average Kiwi safe, are true heroes and I know you made a difference. I send my hugs and prayers to those that knew you well and know they are truly blessed to have an angel like you watching over them. Rest in Peace and again Thank You.”
- By Steve Plowman.
