Updated 4:39pm: Tears and cries of grief were heard in the High Court as a former west Auckland cop was sent to jail.

Peter Pakau has been sentenced to eight years and four months behind bars on drug, bribery and corruption charges.

During sentencing, Justice Andrews acknowledged the 37-year-old's remorse and noted the danger he faces in prison as a former police officer.

His co-accused Melissa Brown has been sentenced to five years and six months in jail, Richard Rei has received seven years and Shane Boag five years. 

Last month Peter Pakau pleaded guilty to 14 charges relating to methamphetamine, accepting bribes, corruption, conspiring to pervert the course of justice and accessing the police computer system.

The father of five resigned from the police after his arrest.

Detective Inspector Bruce Scott says Pakau's offending impacted how officers go about their day to day business and their interactions with the community.

"Pakau is a bad apple, he's corrupt, he's committed these offences himself. It's got nothing to do with the way that we monitor staff," he says. 

"We want to ensure that the community feel, and are, safe.

"If police officers are acting in a corrupt way as Pakau has, then that's not giving the public that reassurance."