For Immediate Release
09 March 2015

Firearms threat to police from another routine call

“The two Waikato police officers confronted by an armed offender are to be commended for their courage,” Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

“Once again, at the time a routine police call for assistance escalated into an armed standoff, the officers’ firearms were locked in their vehicle and of no use to them,” Mr O’Connor said.

“As in a number of recent incidents, the officers had no way of defending themselves had the offender chosen to shoot.”

“Police officers accept there is always an element of risk in their job – it is the nature of policing. However, policies restricting the carriage of both Tasers and firearms mean the risk is unnecessarily increased,” Mr O’Connor said.

“It is time the realities of the modern policing environment are reflected in policing equipment, training and policy,” he said.

ENDS

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