Police Association welcomes verdict in Whakatane case

“The jury’s verdict today reflects that these officers were performing a difficult and often dangerous job,” Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

“These were four country cops – family men – who went to work on a Labour Day, while most people were on holiday, and their lives have been turned upside down. The actions they took were never of a criminal nature, and the matter should never have ended up in court.“

Mr O’Connor’s comments followed a jury acquitting four police officers on all charges of alleged assault relating to their actions in dealing with an uncooperative prisoner in Whakatane in 2006.

“Officers are frequently faced with difficult and dangerous situations where they are ‘damned if they do, damned if they don’t.’ Decisions made in those circumstances are not always perfect, and things can always be done better. But Police need to be able to make tough decisions without fear of being dragged unnecessarily through the courts to second-guess the actions they take in the course of their duty,” Mr O’Connor said.