Constable Benjamin Peter McLean has been charged with the murder of his wife and the attempted murder of a man she was believed to be in a relationship with.
McLean appeared before Judge Mark Callaghan at a Southland Hospital bedside Invercargill District Court hearing this afternoon.
The 47-year-old is charged with murdering Verity Ann McLean - with whom he has three children - and the attempted murder of Garry William Duggan.
McLean was remanded in custody by consent to May 18, when he will appear in the Invercargill High Court by video link.
Police say they are "shocked and dismayed" at the shooting allegations.
Two senior CIB police from outside Invercargill will help lead the investigation to help police remain impartial as they investigate the case.
Ballistics specialists will help police reconstruct what happened last night. Around 30 staff from inside and outside the district were working.
Speaking to press at the Invercargill Central Police Station, Southern District Commander Superintendent Paul Basham said the priority for police was to remain impartial while the investigation was carried out.
He acknowledged the impact the incident was having on the wider families of the three people involved but also on the "police family" in Invercargill.
"It's had a significant impact on staff that had to deal with this. As district commander I am immensely proud of their professionalism and integrity in the way they conducted themselves last night in what were extreme circumstances."
The second victim, Duggan, called police to the scene last night.
"We are committed to being professional and diligent in our focus to understand exactly what has happened," he said. He was still calling for members of the community to come forward, saying there were "tight-knit" community of Invercargill.
Basham confirmed the woman who was killed was known to Ben McLean but said until she was formally identified police would not name her.
He was not aware of any concerns about Ben McLean's mental health but said that would be part of the inquiry.
He emphasised that while there was high public interest in the case, McLean had the same rights as any other person charged with a crime and as the matter was before courts he was constrained in the information he could provide.
The South Today earlier reported that McLean appeared to have some facial injuries as he was escorted into a hospital visiting room in front of the judge, police, media and court staff.
No explanation was given as to why the hearing took place at the hospital, The South Today reported.
Bail was not sought.
Police said Duggan was this afternoon in a stable condition in hospital.
