Sergeant Wootton, 52, was working night shift when a report was received of an alleged serious assault and carjacking. Police patrols saw the vehicle near Porirua and a pursuit ensued to Titahi Bay, north of Porirua. 

In an effort to stop the vehicle, Sergeant Wootton laid road spikes in a suburban street in the early hours of 11 July. Tragically he was struck as the vehicle went over the spikes. Despite the best efforts of colleagues and ambulance officers, he died at the scene.

A 32-year-old man appeared in the Porirua District Court on 11 July charged with dangerous driving, dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop after a motor accident. He was also charged with aggravated robbery, the theft of a Honda Prelude and kidnapping a 16-year-old youth.

Sergeant Don Wilkinson was fatally shot while carrying out undercover duties in Mangere in the early hours of Thursday 11 September 2008. He was one of two plainclothes officers shot while trying to install a tracking device on a vehicle outside a suspected P lab.

Two men were arrested in relation to the attack. A 32-year-old man was charged with murder and a 34-year-old man was charged with assault.

Senior Constable Len Snee was fatally wounded on 7 May 2009 while carrying out a routine search warrant in Napier.

Two other police officers and a member of the public who tried to intervene to protect the officers were shot and seriously wounded by the gunman.

A stand-off ensued, which lasted for 51 hours. During this time the gunman used an arsenal of weapons, mostly high-powered military style rifles and shotguns, to shoot at police and the public.

The offender died from a single gunshot wound to the head, which the Coroner confirmed was self-inflicted.