Children support bashed constable

Pembroke School pupils Kadin Turner (8), Tayla Curry (8) and William Knight (7), surrounded by...
Pembroke School pupils Kadin Turner (8), Tayla Curry (8) and William Knight (7), surrounded by their classmates, with the letters they wrote to the police constable who was assaulted in Oamaru last week. Photo by Sally Rae.
The Oamaru police constable who was knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked after a young motorist failed a breath test will return to work next week.

The 32-year-old policeman, who has interim name suppression, received facial, elbow and knee injuries in the attack last week.

Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy said yesterday the response and support from the community following the incident had been "quite amazing".

The constable had received cards, flowers and fruit.

Pupils in room 9 at Pembroke School have been busy writing letters for the constable.

Kadin Turner (8) wrote that he was sorry the officer had been "bashed up by those stupid people" and he hoped he was better soon, so he could go back to work.

Tayla Curry said she hoped the people who hurt the policeman were punished, while Callum Gillespie (7) said he was sorry for the "damage" the policeman had suffered - "it must have felt like a scrape from a lion".

He hoped it did not happen again because "you're the police and you're not meant to be harmed".

Teacher Bron White said the class was "shocked and disappointed".

The incident had put Oamaru on the map for the wrong reason and all 25 pupils were keen to write messages of support to the constable.

A 20-year-old South Canterbury man will reappear in the Oamaru District Court tomorrow charged with aggravated injury, drink-driving, dangerous driving, refusing to accompany police and three counts of resisting police.

An 18-year-old Oamaru man, charged with aggravated injuring, and another 18-year-old Oamaru man, charged with theft of a breath-testing device, will also reappear.

 

Add a Comment