Constable Sophie Allison and Detective Constable Jeremy Toschi, both of Dunedin, were today presented with the 2022 Police Association Bravery Award awards by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the association’s annual conference in Wellington.
Const Allison was off duty and shopping and Det Const Toschi was in plainclothes and in the supermarket to buy his lunch when the attack happened on May 10 last year.
In her statement on the chaotic scene, Const Allison described ‘‘the type of screaming that makes your stomach sink... he had a knife in each hand... I realised he was stabbing people. He was intentionally going for people’s necks,’’ she said.
Receiving the award was an ‘‘absolute honour’’.
She was nominated for the award by her colleagues, which made it ‘‘really special and a genuine honour.’’
Det Const Toschi said he was humbled and honoured to be receiving the award.
His son had been very nervous about going into supermarkets in the months following, he said.
The association’s bravery award panel, which includes New Zealand's High Commissioner to Australia, Dame Annette King, and former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, said that the courageous actions of the officers, along with supermarket staff and members of the public, prevented the offender from killing or seriously injuring more victims.
A man was jailed in May this year for 13 years after pleading guilty to four charges of attempted murder.
Association president Chris Cahill said members of the public, Countdown staff and the two police officers all responded to the stabbing spree with great bravery.
‘‘They worked together to save lives and prevent further injury, and all involved should be incredibly proud of themselves,’’ Mr Cahill said.
In a post on Instagram, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern later paid tribute to Const Allison and Det Const Toschi, saying their efforts to help stop the supermarket attack were "incredible".
"My dad was a police officer - in fact he spent 40 years with the New Zealand Police, with a good part of that time as a detective and later working in the pacific. Whenever I attend police events, I remember what it was like to have a family member in the job.
"Today I felt incredibly privileged to be part of the Police Bravery Awards. This year, they acknowledged Constable Sophie Allison and Detective Constable Jeremy Toschi who were off duty and in plain clothes when an offender attacked shoppers and staff at Countdown in Dunedin.
"Their efforts to stop the attack alongside others was incredible, and meeting their family and friends today was especially humbling.
"Thanks for what you do, and thanks for letting me be a part of it."
