Cop suspended after 95yo’s tasering
The police officer who allegedly tasered 95-year-old nursing resident Clare Nowland has been suspended with pay.
Ms Nowland, who is now receiving end-of-life care, is believed to have been standing at her walking frame with a knife before the tasering.
It’s understood the aged-care resident, who weighs just 45kg, fell to the floor as a result and hit her head. She was living in the dementia ward of Yallambie Lodge at the time.
Identified by the Daily Telegraph as NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White, NSW Police confirmed investigations into the horrific incident were ongoing.
On Tuesday morning, the NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb copped a major grilling over the incident from Today host Karl Stefanovic.
The Today host told Ms Webb there was “a lot riding” on the investigation into the tragic incident.
Asked if there was any other way officers could have handled the confrontation, Ms Webb told the morning show host: “We don’t know that.
“We don’t know why the aged-care facility called police in the first place.
“Police officers are trained in a number of tactical options to use the least amount of force.
“Until we actually understand why, we won’t really know.”
Pressure mounted on NSW Police in the days after the shocking incident to release body-worn video to the public.
Ms Webb doubled down on Tuesday not only on the decision to not release the video but her own refusal to view it.
“People can’t reconcile the fact that you haven’t looked at this video. They just can’t fathom why you wouldn’t have,” Stefanovic said.
In reply, Ms Webb said: “As a decision maker, I may watch this video when all the evidence comes before me.
“But, by watching that video now won‘t make the investigation go faster.
“I need these detectives who are the best in NSW to work through this methodically, follow a process and then I’ll review it as a whole.”
Ms Webb said the local police commander was told by the family they did not want the video to be released at the moment.
Nonetheless, she admitted she understood criticism around her decision to not watch the video, and it potentially poorly portrayed police.
“It (the video) may not look good at all,” Ms Webb said.
“We need to work through the facts and not speculate.”
Stefanovic said a Canberra magistrate had labelled the officer’s behaviour as “outrageous and unprofessional” during an unrelated matter.
When the Today host asked Ms Webb if she had heard that the body-worn video “doesn’t look great”, Ms Webb said: “I have heard that.
“Part of this investigation around Mrs Nowland’s matter will take into account the officer‘s history.
“As I said it will be a very complete full investigation including an urgent review into that officer’s history and his current work status.”
Ms Webb would not confirm how long the investigation would take or when it would deliver its findings.
