Men Being Interviewed
New Zealand Police National News Release
8:19am 11 September 2008
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=4308
Police are interviewing two men at the centre of this morning's double shooting of Police Officers in Mangere.
One officer was killed and another received several shots and was assaulted after they were chased for about 75 metres
from a Hain Ave property to nearby Earlsworth Rd shortly before 1.45am.
The officers, both men, were on the property as part of a covert Police operation which was targeting a suspected
methamphetamine operation. They were acting under a warrant issued by the Manukau District Court to install a tracking
device in a vehicle.
They were disturbed and the tragedy unfolded.
Superintendent Ted Cox of the Auckland Metro Crime and Operations Services (AMCOS), says losing a staff member in these
circumstances is his worst nightmare come true.
"It's an absolute tragedy to lose an officer and have another so seriously threatened in this way," he said.
"Two people came out from the Hain Ave address, got into a vehicle and pursued the officers who were on foot," he said.
"As this was a covert operation we don't know yet whether they identified themselves as Police Officers, but I can't
think of any reason to pursue and shoot anybody in this manner."
Both officers were part of the Technical Support Unit which works covertly alongside the Clandestine Laboratory Team.
Neither the injured or killed officer was armed during the operation but there were armed officers nearby as support.
Sadly, the situation unfolded so quickly that they were unable to intervene to help their colleagues.
The injured officer was taken to Middlemore Hospital by ambulance where he will undergo surgery sometime today.
Superintendent Cox said a full risk assessment had been done by Police on the property and the people being targeted in
the operation and there was nothing to indicate any undue risk to staff.
He said there was no public safety issue around this morning's tragedy as this was a targeted operation at a specific
address for a specific reason.
ENDS