An armed gunman and a significant threat to the public, Tauranga, 13 February 2020
OFFICER A
OFFICER B
OFFICER C
OFFICER D
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
On the evening of 13 February 2020, four members of the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) were on patrol in two vehicles when they identified a vehicle linked to an offender being sought for a recent double homicide in Tauranga.
The occupant of the vehicle began shooting at the team as he drove, hitting the windscreen of the lead vehicle. As they followed, the offender continued shooting and the AOS team warned other Police staff in the area about the situation.
The gunman stopped briefly in a residential area and fired again at the first police car. When he moved again, the officers followed, keeping both cars close to his vehicle.
The offender stopped again on southbound State Highway 2, which the AOS team decided was isolated enough to attempt an arrest. They stopped their cars between five and 10 metres from the vehicle.
The officers saw the offender moving in his vehicle and expected him to shoot again. Officer A positioned himself to use his patrol car to immobilise the offender’s vehicle if necessary and Officer C fired at the offender’s vehicle.
Officer D left the second car and moved between his car and the offender’s, firing through the back window. Officers C and D saw the offender slump in his seat and his vehicle began rolling off the road. They ran alongside to take the offender into custody.
The officers demonstrated bravery in pursuing a motivated offender who continuously shot at their team over an extended time, close to the general public.