A police officer was injured after being struck by a car in Huntly. The incident comes a month after Nelson Senior Sergant Lyn Fleming was allegedly murdered by a man in a vehicle. Photo / George Heard
A police officer was injured after being struck by a car in Huntly. The incident comes a month after Nelson Senior Sergant Lyn Fleming was allegedly murdered by a man in a vehicle. Photo / George Heard
The Police Minister has further condemned assaults on officers after a “disgusting and cowardly” incident where a Waikato cop was allegedly deliberately rammed by a vehicle.
The incident happened at 8pm on Wednesday while the officer was conducting inquiries at a Huntly address on an unrelated matter.
A police spokesperson said the officer had stepped out of their patrol car when “another vehicle drove toward them, colliding with the patrol vehicle and the officer”.
“The offending driver fled but was located and arrested,” they said.
The police spokesperson said the injured officer was expected to make a full recovery and was being supported through the process.
Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming died in Nelson a month ago after a man struck her with his car.
Fleming, who had been a police officer for 38 years, died after she and Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay were struck by a vehicle in central Nelson early on New Year’s Day.
A 32-year-old man has been charged with murdering Fleming and attempting to murder Ramsay.
He is also facing two charges of assault using a vehicle as a weapon, two charges of wounding with intent, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified.
Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was killed in the line of duty on New Year's Day at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson. Photo / George Heard
Police Minister Mark Mitchell spoke out about the Huntly incident yesterday.
“One of our police officers was intentionally rammed by a vehicle last night. This is a disgusting, cowardly attack,“ he said.
“As a Government, we are working at pace with legislation that will create serious consequences for attacks on our police and first responders.”
Police Association president Chris Cahill said the incident highlighted the risk police officers faced when on duty.
He said deliberate incidents of this nature were not common.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers spoke after Fleming’s funeral.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers and Lyn Fleming's husband during her police funeral. Photo / George Heard
He noted she was the 34th police officer killed on duty – and the first woman.
“Policing is tough. It’s getting more and more volatile, yet we have a job to do for the community and sadly as happened here on New Year’s Day, just by doing our job.,” he said.
“Lyn, she was there with her colleagues and she’s lost her life. [It’s] very, very tough on all of us, a remarkable woman we have lost.”
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