Senior Constable who tasered 95 year-old grandmother in Cooma has been charged

By TILEAH DOBSON

The senior police officer who tasered 95 year-old Clare Nowland has now been charged and suspended from duty with pay. 

The 33 year-old senior constable Kristian White has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault.

He is set to appear at Cooma local court on Wednesday 5th July.

The officer and his partner were called to the Yallambee Lodge aged care home in Cooma on Wednesday 17th May, after staff had found Nowland wandering around with a knife.

After failing to disarm her, the senior constable resorted to tasing her which made Nowland fall and fracture her skull. Nowland was rushed to Cooma Base Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.

In a statement released on Tuesday 23rd May, NSW Police said “a 33-year-old senior constable attached to Monaro Police District was suspended from duty with pay.”

“As investigations continue into the critical incident, further updates will be provided.”

There’s been mounting pressure and criticism against NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb after it was revealed that she has not watched the body-cam footage of the incident.

Webb has stated that she’s holding off on watching the footage until she has a clear understanding of what had happened.

“I may have to review that in time as a decision-maker in this organisation,” she said.

“But I want to do that when I have a complete picture of what happened. I don’t see any value in reviewing that footage now when I don’t know … what else happened pre- and post- that incident.”

LECC Report

A report released recently by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) highlighted that the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) had “no obligation for the NSWPF to notify oversight agencies of a critical incident,” prior to the LECC’s establishment.

“A critical incident investigation would only be monitored by an oversight agency if a complaint had been made about the actions of police, or an oversight agency had otherwise become aware of potential police misconduct, via court proceedings or through the media,” the report stated.

The report also recommends that the NSWPF implements better and more extensive training when dealing with people with mental health issues in order to protect the community’s most vulnerable.

Common Sense

President of the Law Society of NSW, Cassandra Banks has said that the report’s recommendations are common sense.

“This report can be the foundation for real improvements in the capability of Police to deal with critical incidents, including those involving people struggling with mental health or behavioural issues linked to cognitive impairment,” she said.

“The Law Society appreciates that our police officers are often called upon to put themselves in harm’s way while discharging their duties. As the LECC’s report states, ‘unenviable split-second decisions’ can lead to tragic outcomes.”

“Improved and strengthened police training, more transparency and greater resourcing and involvement of mental health professionals in NSWPF interactions with affected individuals can only help resolve these incidents with reduced reliance on force or coercion.”