‘Selfless’. That’s how colleagues describe the actions of two officers who are to be honoured with New Zealand Bravery Awards.
Senior Constable Blair Spalding was wounded when he and Constable Ben Turner were first on the scene to apprehend a man armed with a loaded sawn-off shotgun.
It has today [Monday 1 August] been announced that both officers are to receive the New Zealand Bravery Decoration for acts of exceptional bravery in situations of danger.
It was at the end of August 2014 when the dog handlers were called into action. They and other officers were dispatched to stop a stolen van.
As he followed the fleeing, stolen van, Constable Ben Turner identified the offender.
The offender had a history of violent crime, methamphetamine use and it was believed that he was in possession of a firearm.
Senior Constable Spalding determined it would be an unacceptable risk to allow the man to enter the centre of Hamilton.
The officer used his Police dog vehicle to push the van off the road. But the offender and his van broke free and went into a supermarket car park.
Shortly afterwards the man, with his shotgun, attempted to take a woman’s vehicle at gunpoint at the store’s petrol pumps.
At this point Constable Turner had arrived on the scene and started grappling with the offender. Senior Constable Spalding moved quickly to assist in restraining the man.
During the struggle both barrels of the weapon went off. Senior Constable Spalding suffered a number of puncture wounds to his left foot and leg.
The offender was finally restrained when another dog handler arrived and used his dog to assist in subduing the man.
On hearing the good news about his award, Senior Constable Spalding, who returned to duties after having surgery to remove a brain tumour, says:
“I am very honoured and proud to receive this award.”
When asked to reflect upon the event, he says: “I occasionally think about what we did. It was a team effort and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was the type of incident that a lot of people would run away from, but as Police, we are the ones that need to run towards the danger to keep the public safe.”
Colleague Constable Turner is equally humble: “It was the right thing to do on the day. I am grateful to the entire team which responded to this incident.”
The New Zealand Bravery Awards are administered by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The medals are due to be presented at Government House on a date to be announced.
ENDS
Note to media: Neither of the officers or their supervisors will be conducting media interviews at this stage. Any interviews will be considered for the investiture at Government House, on a date yet to be announced.
Police Media Centre
