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The police union has sprung to the defence of officers who circulated graphic images of a knife attack victim, saying the public should see what police face.
An email originating from Christchurch police contains pictures of an American officer slashed by a knife with accompanying text saying: "If you've got a knife, then you should die ... period".
The content of the email was downloaded from an American website and used by a Christchurch police officer to remind colleagues why they needed to wear their new stab-resistant body armour. But it also reached members of the public.
The officer the email originated from will be investigated, but his boss, Superintendent Sandra Manderson, would not speculate yesterday on what action might result.
Ms Manderson, the Canterbury district commander, said it might have been "naive" to circulate the email without removing the provocative wording, but "it was sent out with goodwill".
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said concerns raised about the email were an over-reaction.
"Officers know when to shoot and when not to shoot. The comments in it are a little unfortunate. They are very American-ised. But [the email] was always done to encourage New Zealand police officers to wear their vests."
Mr O'Connor said he was "very relaxed" about the use of the gory images.
"Maybe it's not a bad thing that the public see some of this too, and realise that police officers do get damaged by knives."
He said society had to be "very careful we don't get police officers fearful of doing everything".
"Any member of the public who is confronted by a knife and the police turn up, they will want police to take decisive action. The danger is we somehow make our police too tentative."
National Party police spokesman Chester Borrows, a former detective, said the officer who created the email should have specified it not be circulated outside the police.
It was well intentioned, but it was naive to include the downloaded wording, Mr Borrows said.
"The bigotry in that is just scary. It's not what the public of New Zealand want to hear."
Police Minister Annette King said the email was a matter for the police to handle themselves and she would not comment on it.
