A Bathurst police officer has been awarded a Commissioners Commendation for Courage after being attacked by a man with a knife.
In January, 2002, Senior Constable Gillian Greer and Probationary Constable Jay Conder were making enquiries about a man who had escaped from a Mental Health Unit in Botany.
When they saw the man walking into his house they began to speak with him.
The three of them went into the kitchen to continue speaking but the suspect suddenly grabbed a carving knife. Constable Conder sprayed capsicum spray at the offender but to no effect. The man then stabbed Constable Conder in his back.
Constable Greer shot the offender in the chest to disable him.
“He got a carving knife. My partner tried to spray him with capsicum spray but it didn’t work so I shot him,” Ms Greer said.
“He dropped the knife, fell to the ground and everything was ok. I was thinking ‘just stop the threat and stop him from stabbing my partner’.
“It had to be done. I was just doing my job.”
Both Constable Conder and the offender recovered from their injuries.
Ms Greer was presented the award by Assistant Commissioner Stephen Bradshaw at the NSW Police Service Chifley Local Area Command Medals and Awards Ceremony last Thursday.