NEW ZEALAND
POLICE ASSOCIATION

Media Release

For Immediate Release
15 July 2015

All police officers should carry Tasers

It is unacceptable that any officer, let alone a sole officer, should be expected to patrol without having a Taser readily available, Police Association President Greg O'Connor said today.

Mr O'Connor was commenting after a motorcycle patrol officer was strangled nearly to the point of unconsciousness by an offender who was attempting to escape after a short pursuit in Counties Manukau yesterday.

The officer, who had chased the offender on foot after he abandoned his vehicle, showed considerable courage and tenacity in still being able to maintain contact with the offender until assistance arrived, despite having been strangled by the offender. The offender was arrested.

The officer required medical treatment but was not admitted to hospital.

“If the officer had had a Taser, he would have been able to avoid the need to enter into a physical struggle with the offender,” Mr O'Connor said.

Mr O'Connor repeated the Police Association demand that all police officers be equipped with a Taser while on frontline duty.

“Violent incidents arise before officers can return to their vehicle to retrieve the Taser, so they need to be carrying them.”

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