A passionate investigator, a champion for victims, and the man who expanded New Zealand’s vocabulary of crime and criminals – former Detective Inspector Graham Bell QSM was a legend.
Graham died in Hospice Waikato on Tuesday 7 October at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer, fought with characteristic tenacity.
Graham joined Police in September 1968 as a member of the 41 Sam Browne Recruit Wing. He was posted to Auckland and in 1994 moved to Rotorua, where he was OC CIB by the time he retired in December 2001.
Recruit Graham in 1968; at an Advanced Drug Investigators' course in 1986; and Inspectors' Qualifying course in 1996.
Though many criminals had cause to regret crossing his path, it was after retirement that he had his biggest impact on the country as a whole.
He teamed up with production company Screentime to develop a true-crime series which became Police Ten 7, fronting it from 2002 to 2014.
The programme helped solve crime and shone a light on the everyday work of police – and Graham attained ‘national treasure’ status with his colourful descriptions of the ‘gutless goons’, ‘ratbags’ and ‘mongrels’ making life a misery for others.
He was a bit of a legend, Commissioner Richard Chambers said in a tribute as news of Graham’s passing broke yesterday (8 October).
“When I was a young police officer and a fresh detective, Graham Bell was someone I certainly looked up to in terms of his passion for policing but also his drive to hold some of our worst offenders to account,” he said.
“He was a bit of a legend when it comes to policing in New Zealand and a real personality as well.”
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson also paid tribute: “He was a dedicated investigator who cared greatly about the teams he led. He also had a huge affinity for taking care of victims of serious crime.”
The investigations Graham oversaw included 19 murder cases. To name a few: the 1998 murder of Beverly Bouma in Reporoa; Operation Creed, the murder of Joanne van Duyvenbooden in 1999; and Operation Point, the murder of Noel McKenzie in 2001.
One of the most challenging followed the murder of Constable Murray Stretch in Mangakino in 1999.
Graham’s work on these and his many other cases was recognised at the highest level in 2001 with the award of the Queen’s Service Medal for his services to investigations and New Zealand Police.
Graham Bell saw Police Ten 7 as a way to both solve crime and demystify Police and policing for a wide audience.
“He was probably ahead of his time in using the media for serious crime.
“He was very charismatic and his use of the English language to describe villains was second to none. He was very loyal to his staff and their welfare was important to him. He had a real presence and was a larger-than-life character.”
Lew said Graham’s personality and old-school style of policing worked well. “He could just relate to people so well.”
Former Police media and comms advisor Kaye Calder first worked with Graham when, as a detective senior sergeant, he had the role of Auckland Police media advisor, then again on Police Ten 7.
Celebrating an iconic Ten 7 moment, and an award.
She says he saw the series as a way to both solve crime and demystify Police and policing for a wide audience.
“He was passionate and respected as an investigator and had a varied and successful career,” she says.
“He always had victims at the forefront of his mind and was very passionate about getting the result for the victims and their families.”
The end of Graham’s Ten 7 tenure was in part brought about by his robust approach, which was not thought a good fit in the changing policing landscape.
“He was a man of his time,” says Kaye. “He had many colourful expressions, which were always his own views, but he was motivated by his big heart with victims always his focus.
“Many people remember the expressions but people in Police remember him as somebody who first and foremost helped victims.”
Detective Sergeant Rob Lemoto, who took over as Police Ten 7 presenter, has nothing but admiration for ‘the big man’.
“He created a legacy and made it cool for people to call Police again,” he said yesterday. “His personality drew people back to helping us solve crimes.
“He didn’t try to be a robot. He gave his take on it. He put out the facts but he would always have a GB take on it.”
It was his way with words and clear passion that made the public want to help catch the 'lowlifes', 'scums' and 'mongrels'.
“It was all about Graham’s authenticity,” said Rob.
Our thoughts are with Graham’s wife (of 57 years) Joyce, children and grandchildren.
📸With thanks to the New Zealand Police Museum and Screentime NZ for their help with the photos.