A New Zealand police officer was shot to death while the officer was conducting a regular traffic stop in Auckland.
The officer’s death is the first in the nation since 2009, as incidents such as this one are extremely rare in the island nation.
New Zealand’s police commissioner Andrew Coster relayed that another officer was also shot by the same offender, and that the second officer is currently in critical condition.
The commissioner explained that the policeman duo tried to pull the car off to the side when it drove off. The two officers found the car crashed by the roadside after a short chase. At this point, the shooter pulled out a gun and shot at both of the officers, then ran away on another vehicle.
Other than the two police officers, one civilian who sustained minor injuries as the suspect initially fled the officers is also being treated. Soon after the incident, a search for the offender commenced along with an immediate lockdown for all schools in the vicinity.
The police said that they have secured the gun that was used, and are talking with two people of interests. Unusual for the country’s police force, all forces have been ordered to carry firearms.
The New Zealand police do not carry around firearms at all times. Part of it has to do with how there is scarcely any gun-related offenses in the nation, rendering the carrying of firearms rather gratuitous for the country’s police force.
Therefore, it is not surprising that very few police officers had been killed while in duty. CNN reports how only 32 officers were killed by criminal activities since 1890. However, despite the low numbers, whether the police force should be armed was already a contentious topic within the country.
Last year’s massive shooting at Christchurch Mosque was a major turning point. In an incident where 51 people were killed while practicing their religion, the New Zealand police force decided to train and deploy three armed units around the islands.
However, the decision was rescinded just last week when the police commissioner admitted that armed policemen were not the police force that New Zealanders are familiar or comfortable with.
It is likely that this horrific incident will reignite the debate over whether the police force should be armed in the nation. Share your thoughts with us on this story, and be sure to follow us on Facebook for more news like this one.
Replaced!