He's a COP? Must be from Hell's Angels...

**Beemer** · 20th November 2005, 11:05

Interesting story on Stuff today...

Skinhead cop fronts satanic death metal band
20 November 2005
By JENNIFER DANN

A tattooed skinhead south Auckland policeman is the frontman for a satanic death metal band which calls for the "eradication of the weak and inferior".

Police Minister Annette King plans to ask the police commissioner for a report on Constable Rigel Walshe after receiving inquiries from the Sunday Star-Times. Walshe works as a court escort in the Counties Manukau police district.

The district was the subject of an inquiry into a "sick" police culture after the conviction in February of Senior Sergeant Anthony Solomona for assaulting a 17-year-old boy he photographed wearing a humiliating sign.

Walshe is the lead singer and bass player of extreme metal outfit Dawn of Azazel, which has an ultra-violent militarist image, featuring satanic symbols and lyrics.

Walshe and a bandmate brandish a beer bottle and baseball bat in a publicity photo posed in a pub setting.

Walshe told the Star-Times he'd been warned by his superiors not to discuss his job with the media.

The district's professional standards manager, Inspector Keith Brady, said police knew of Walshe's band membership, but refused to comment on whether it was appropriate.

"It involves a police member's personal life, and I'm not prepared to discuss that in the media. There has been no specific investigation in respect of his involvement in that band."

The band often headlines New Zealand metal gigs and is touring its second album Sedition with performances in New Plymouth and Palmerston North this weekend.

The album's song list includes titles such as Villany Endures (sic) and Violence and Uncleanliness.

The opening track Spare None contains references to "the embrace of sin", being "smitten with deeds of deviance", succumbing to "perversion and intercourse", and the enduring nature of "lechery and lust".

The band website quotes Walshe as saying: "I just wanted to create lyrics that accompany the feeling of the music, total unrestrained violence, but intelligent and thought out. I'm most f––ed off at people that are afraid to confront their fears, who waste their potential and just follow like sheep, basically the weak and f–-ing mediocre that infest our world."

He is quoted as telling Depth Charge magazine the band's militant stage presence, including uniforms, banners and gasmasks "represent a conviction that is a fight to the death against the inferior elements of humanity".

"There is nothing to be gained from a subtle approach to eradication of the weak".

The Metal Mania website says the band's performance at Riverhead in 2000 "climaxed in a 300+ person riot, the ensuing chaos leaving several injured and hospitalised".

National Party police spokesman Simon Power said police hierarchy needed to be satisfied the officer's extra-curricular activities did not bring the police into disrepute.

"The police are really always on duty and have an obligation to be role models," he said.

**avgas** · 20th November 2005, 11:15

Oh give him a break...... yeh a cop is a role model...... while he is in he uniform.
Shit who wants to become a cop if they remove your personal life. Its hard enough to recruit new cops as the politics stands as it is.

**SPman** · 20th November 2005, 11:17

We need a few more like him.....................?
The bands OK - but not that great - still prefer Sticky Filth!

Not a mate of Scumdogs, is he.......

**T.I.E** · 20th November 2005, 11:22

Originally Posted by avgas

Oh give him a break...... yeh a cop is a role model...... while he is in he uniform.
Shit who wants to become a cop if they remove your personal life. Its hard enough to recruit new cops as the politics stands as it is.

that is what being a cop is all about. when you sign up you waive some rights as a genweral memeber of the public and gain others.
at any time you are there for the government, and queen.

**Swoop** · 20th November 2005, 17:12

Off duty & NOT wearing the uniform = do what you like.
If they want to claim that they are ALWAYS a cop, then they had better be paying them 24 hours per day!!!

**marty** · 20th November 2005, 17:23

Originally Posted by Swoop

Off duty & NOT wearing the uniform = do what you like.
If they want to claim that they are ALWAYS a cop, then they had better be paying them 24 hours per day!!!

FUCK OFF!! according to many people on here, cops are cops, 24/7, and they shouldn't speed, swear, shoot things, or generally have fun.

**onearmedbandit** · 20th November 2005, 17:25

I remeber some female officers posing nude/topless get raked over the coals. But I say leave him alone.

**Motu** · 20th November 2005, 18:51

I don't care whether he's a Cop or not - he should be shot for playing crap music like that!

**hXc** · 20th November 2005, 19:11

It's his choice what he does when not in uniform. As long as it isn't illegal then leave him alone.

If he wants to be in a satanic black metal band then let him be in a satanic black metal band. I have heard the band and personally don't like them. But I appreciate the music and I say good on them for getting out there and doing it. Too many people sit on their arses and say they aren't good enough or that's not for them. Well if being in a band isn't for you, then what the hell are you playing music for in the first place.

He's a cop. He's a musician. Nothing wrong with it. Let him live his life for fucks sakes!

**N4CR** · 20th November 2005, 19:15

Hmm... I have met the person in question.

Nice guy, been at a few gigs with him and he plays and sings well, has a brother called Nigel.

I don't see what the fuss is really, they ain't the hardest and most evil band around, even soft compared to some other bands in terms of music and lyrics/ideolgies.

Everyone has something that is alternative in their life - this is one of them. I used to get weird looks being the 'computer geek death/black metal drummer guy' but have stopped being a computer geek as such (thanks to motorbikes).

Give him a chance is all I can say.

**Beemer** · 20th November 2005, 22:14

How about giving ME a break, did I say anywhere that I gave a toss what this cop does in his personal life? I just said it was "interesting" that's all! If you read the story you will find it is the National Party police spokesperson who said police should be role models, not me! It wouldn't be my kind of music even if the guy was my best mate, but I quite like their idea of getting rid of the weak and inferior!

**spudchucka** · 21st November 2005, 08:42

Originally Posted by T.I.E

that is what being a cop is all about. when you sign up you waive some rights as a genweral memeber of the public and gain others.
at any time you are there for the government, and queen.

You don't waive any rights. You are however under considerably more scrutiny than other members of society.