Shooting gives cop new perspective

Bruce Lamb. Photo / Supplied

Bruce Lamb doesn't dwell on almost losing his life when he was shot last July. The Christchurch policeman would much rather concentrate on what he's gained from it.

"Time's a great healer. It's quite vivid for a wee while. But I don't actually give it too much thought at all," the 32-year veteran dog handler told the Herald.

"I was quite sure I was going to die, and that definitely gives you a new outlook on life. Live a little bit more for today, and friends and family."

Mr Lamb's colleague, Constable Mitchel Alatalo, was also shot, while Mr Lamb's police dog Gage was killed by gunman Christopher Graeme Smith, 35.

The father of three's new outlook has meant he was able to shrug off the loss of his family home after the Canterbury earthquake in September.

"Now I just don't care. It's a house. It's bricks and mortar. There's lots more things that are a lot more important than that. The family's okay and we can rebuild. As long as you have got somewhere to live and you can surround yourself with people that are important to you, that's what life is about really."

Mr Lamb, 51, and his colleagues were checking a house for drugs in what began as a "nothing job" when Smith opened fire, shattering Mr Lamb's jaw and shooting Mr Alatalo through the thigh.

After five months off work on sick leave, the novelty had worn off for Mr Lamb.

He has been back doing a few four-hour days, but won't be back on full duties until his new black Labrador Mylo is fully trained as a police drug dog in the months ahead.

Mr Lamb's wife and children were fully behind his move to go back to policing, he said.

"I can't do frontline stuff because my jaw is still nowhere near back to being able to take a smack in the head, if that was to happen. I've got no bottom jaw and no teeth really on the right hand side.

"There's a plate and [the jaw] is in the process of regrowing.

"In about June next year if it continues to go well, they will put some teeth back in on the right hand side."

He has limited feeling in his lips "so that means when I'm trying to look cool and nonchalant, I dribble red wine all down the front of myself".

"Which is apparently acceptable after about the fifth glass, but not generally on the first one."

The holiday period was a chance for Mr Lamb to spend time with his family in their traditional holiday spot.

Smith has pleaded guilty to two charges of wounding police officers with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two charges of using a firearm against police, killing a police dog and three charges of possessing a firearm.

He is to stand trial in May on two charges of attempted murder.