The fallout from the distressing incident at a NSW aged-care home, where a 95-year-old dementia patient was tasered by police, has taken an ugly turn.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley revealed in state parliament on Tuesday that at least one worker at Yallambie Lodge in Cooma, in southern NSW, had been threatened since news of Clare Nowland’s tasering was revealed
Grilled by the state opposition, which accused her on Tuesday of “going missing” on the controversial altercation, Ms Cately revealed emotions were running high.
“A worker at Yallambee Lodge, who is employed by council, has received at least one death threat already,” she said during question time.
Ms Catley refused to say if she had seen the police bodycam footage of the incident involving Mrs Nowland, who uses a walking frame.
“There is an inquiry underway and it is appropriate for those people who are investigating that to look at all the evidence including the footage,” she said.
“It’s important that the inquiry run its course properly without any prejudice or interference.”
Ms Catley said she’d make no further comments while the “very serious investigation” continued.
“Politicising this matter is not going to be of any assistance,” she said.
But NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the decision by Ms Catley and Police Commissioner Karen Webb not to review police body-cam footage from the incident was “quite extraordinary”.
“The Police Minister has been missing in action so far as instilling public confidence in this process is concerned,” he said.
“We haven’t heard from the Police Minister that she has said or done anything to make sure that the process is transparent, that it is robust, and that the report will be released to the public in a timely manner.”
The 33-year-old senior constable who tasered the great-grandmother because she allegedly refused to drop a steak knife, was suspended from duty on full pay on Tuesday.
Mrs Nowland, a mother of eight, fell to the ground after being hit. She suffered critical head injuries and is receiving end-of-life care in Cooma District Hospital, with her family by her side.
After releasing scant details on the circumstances surrounding the incident, NSW Police issued a statement on Tuesday confirming the senior constable involved had been suspended.
“Today a 33-year-old senior constable attached to Monaro Police District was suspended from duty with pay,” it said.
The officer who fired the taser joined the force 12 years ago. He was removed from active duty on Friday.
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Clare Nowland in critical condition after police tasering
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Ms Webb has repeatedly said she has not viewed footage from the aged-care incident, and does not intend to. Nor has she spoken to the suspended officer.
“I will probably speak to him at some point,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.
“My concern at the moment is with the Nowland family. This is a terrible time for them.”
Ms Webb has ordered a review of police training, particularly focused on how to deal with people with dementia.
“The role of a police officer seems to be growing wider and wider and we are expected to know everything about everything – and we are not experts on everything,” she said.
Ms Webb said Mrs Nowland’s family has asked that the “confronting” footage from last week’s altercation remain private.
Elsewhere, the NSW Greens and an independent MP want the government to establish a parliamentary inquiry into NSW Police.
Greens MP Sue Higginson was to demand a fully independent investigation and bring the issue to the floor of the NSW parliament on Tuesday.
Her motion would also call for the public release of the officers’ footage.
The incident revealed “how desperately we need police reform” and the government needed to ensure there was not a “culture of impunity” in the police force, Ms Higginson said.
“People are coming forward with alarming examples of ways the NSW Police have acted out of turn and rarely faced consequences – I fear this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the extent of the issue,” she said on Tuesday.
“The refusal to release the bodycam footage protects NSW Police from public scrutiny for all the wrong reasons – the NSW community has a right to know exactly what happened when Clare Nowland was tasered so we can start to take the steps needed for change.”
An inquiry would help to understand the extent of the issue, how much harm is being caused in communities and what police need to do their job properly.
“We can’t ignore this any longer and we have to accept that the tasering of Clare Nowland wasn’t isolated,” Ms Higginson said.
“It’s part of a suite of violent actions by police that are damaging our communities and we need a plan for repair,” she said.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward also said he would move to establish an inquiry into training for frontline emergency services with respect to people living with cognitive decline and disabilities.
An investigation into Mrs Nowland’s tasering is being led by the homicide squad and the Professional Standards Committee of NSW Police, and overseen by the independent Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
-with AAP
