Minister consoles victims' families

Police Minister Judith Collins, who is married to a former undercover police officer, told Senior Constable Bruce Miller's family yesterday of knowing the feeling of "wondering if your husband is going to come home".

"Fortunately my husband wasn't shot and wasn't shot and killed," Ms Collins told the Herald. "But I do know the feeling of wondering if your husband is going to come home because he's out on a very dangerous operation."

Ms Collins' husband, David Wong Tung, has left the police.

She found talking to the families of Mr Miller and the other officers "absolutely devastating", particularly given that they had been out on a routine operation.

She said the memories of being a "police wife" were still fresh. "Knowing every time your spouse goes out to work you might not see them again focuses your mind on what policing is all about."

Speaking before Senior Constable Len Snee's body was retrieved, Ms Collins said his wife Vicki had told her of wanting his body back more than anything else, "and quite frankly who would argue with that?"

Ms Collins visited the hospital yesterday and met the families of Senior Constable Grant Diver, 50, and Mr Miller, 40, who were critically injured, one in an induced coma.

It was a tough time for everyone, she said. "I've seen very, very experienced police officers with tears in their eyes."