The police need to be made answerable and accountable.
My deepest condelences go to the family of Halatau Naitoko. I believe the police made severe error of judgement. Yet once again the police public relations machine and media go into damage mode emphasising that the police were protecting the public. The truth is,an innocent member of the public was shot.
From aerial photos published by the media, it is very clear that the police should have moved all civilian vehicles out of the way first before embarking on any attempt to disarm the offender. That should have been the main
and standard priority.
There were sufficient police personnel present to remove these civilians from the scene immediately, and to disarm and arrest the
offender.
Instead, the white Subaru occupied by the young couple, followed by the courier van occupied by Hatatu Naitoko, remained sitting targets.
The police need to be held answerable with regard to this matter. If a member of the public sought to do the same, they would be charged with manslaughter.
This culture of being above the law and at the same time, upholding it, is very wrong. Protecting errant police personnel must end.