The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into a complaint alleging an officer assaulted a detainee in the rear of an ambulance by slapping their face, as well as making inappropriate comments.
Police were initially called to a family harm episode where the intoxicated detainee allegedly assaulted their partner. Prior to officers arriving the detainee punched a window, injuring his arm.
As officers arrived, the detainee ran to his vehicle and drove away at speed, almost hitting the Police vehicle. The officers found the detainee had crashed into the fence of a nearby paddock. The officers gave first aid but the detainee remained verbally abusive and aggressive, swinging their arm at an officer and trying to headbutt them. The detainee was handcuffed and escorted by this same officer into an ambulance as they were transported to hospital. Throughout the journey, the detainee kept managing to undo their seatbelt whilst verbally abusing and threatening the officer.
The investigation found that the officer slapped the detainee in the face and said: “That’s what you get for hitting a woman.” The officer was also dismissive to the paramedic who requested their badge number following the slap. Police considered there was sufficient evidence to charge the officer with assault. They instead referred the officer through the restorative approach of Te Pae Oranga, which the officer successfully completed.
Police also found that the officer’s actions breached their Code of Conduct and constituted serious misconduct. The officer received a confidential employment outcome.
IPCA: 24-21110