Police officer in hospital after assault in Rotorua

A man hit the officer with an unknown object, then fled. Photo / File

A police officer suffered serious head injuries after being assaulted while on duty last night.

Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Andy McGregor said the constable was on an emergency call at a house in Owhata, Rotorua about midnight.

He was arresting a man for allegedly assaulting a woman, when a second man jumped a fence and hit him on the side of the head with an unknown object.

The officer was knocked unconscious and the offender took off on foot.

The constable was taken to Rotorua Hospital, then transferred to Waikato where he is sedated and in a stable condition.

"Police work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and acts of violence like this against our officers are unacceptable," McGregor said.

"Police take the safety of staff seriously and will continue to investigate this attack to hold those responsible to account."

New Zealand Police Association president Chris Cahill said the organisation was offering support and assistance to the injured officer.

"Our thoughts go out to the officer who was the victim of a horrific and cowardly attack while making an arrest," he said.

"This highlights the dangerous situations that officers put themselves in while carrying out their duty.

"It very quickly turned a routine policing matter into a volatile and life-threatening situation.

"We all hope for a favourable outcome for the injured officer from this sickening assault."

It was the second serious assault on a police officer this week, after a constable was hit over the head up to 15 times in Morrinsville on Monday.

The Morrinsville officer was treated by ambulance staff at the scene.