'Cowardly' attack on officers slammed

Inspector Rob Lindsay. File photo / Greg Bowker

Hamilton's top police officer has labelled a brutal attack on two of his staff this weekend as "cowardly" and "unacceptable".

Area commander Inspector Rob Lindsay said a senior non-commissioned officer and a constable were attacked after they being called to a domestic dispute between a 55-year-old man and his son, 34, on Marshall St on Sunday night.

"On their arrival the officers found the father had left in a car and they were confronted by the agitated son, both men involved in the dispute had been drinking," Mr Lindsay said.

As the officers were leaving the address the father returned in the car, he said.

Getting out of the vehicle the father confronted the constable who tried unsuccessfully to restrain him.

"The constable deployed his taser and discharged it twice at the father. Despite making contact it had little effect and the officer was subsequently punched about the face by the man several times.

"While this is going on the 34-year-old son also turned on the constable, assaulting him several times before he was joined by an 18-year-old sibling. By now all three men were continuously assaulting the officers."

Mr Lindsay said as the Senior Sergeant radioed for urgent assistance the full range of tactical options were deployed in an effort to stem the attack.

"It is on this point I am very proud of my staff in that they were not afraid to use the whole range of tactical options available from trying to reason with the offenders to using their batons then pepper spray, a taser and eventually deploying a firearm to quell the situation.

"What concerns me the most is my staff, one of who suffered damage to an eye, were called to the address to help the people there and in turn were set upon by the occupants. This should not just be unacceptable to police but to the community as a whole."

Three men have arrested and face a variety of charges including aggravated assault and resisting police while a woman was also charged with obstructing police.

- NZHERALD STAFF