The brave police officer who shot knifeman Joel Cauchi and ended his deadly stabbing spree inside Westfield Bondi Junction in April has received a special award for her bravery.
NSW Premier Chris Minns says Inspector Amy Scott exemplifies “the best instincts and traditions of the public service.”
The Senior Inspector single-handedly confronted and shot attacker Joel Cauchi during his murderous rampage through Westfield’s Bondi Junction on Saturday.
“If I can speak about Amy Scott in particular… She was by herself, she confronted this murderer and she saved many, many lives,” Mr Minns told Sky News.
“Exemplifying the best instincts and traditions of the public service.
“It was incredible to watch, what an amazing police officer.”
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott fatally shot Mr Cauchi after he stabbed six people to death with a knife inside the shopping centre on April 13.
Ms Scott, who was conducting duties nearby, instinctively rushed into the complex and bravely approached the knifeman before fatally shooting him after he refused to drop his weapon.
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott who shot knifeman Joel Cauchi and ended his deadly stabbing spree inside Westfield Bondi Junction in April has received a special bravery award. Picture: POOL/NewsWire/Mick Tsikas
Ms Scott on Friday received the Commissioners Valour Award from the NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb during a ceremony. Picture: POOL/NewsWire/ Mick Tsikas
Ms Scott on Friday received the Commissioners Valour Award from NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb during a ceremony at the force’s academy in Goulburn.
Ms Webb pinned an honourable award to Ms Scott’s uniform as the pair shook hands and posed for photos and other members of NSW Police and the public clapped in respect.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said Ms Scott received the award for the exceptional bravery she showed in bringing the stabbing rampage to an end.
“Inspector Scott has been rightly labelled a hero. She was calm, decisive, and as a result she saved many lives,” he said.
“She gives us all an example of what we ask of our police, many of whom are young, to walk into terrible situations as an ordinary part of their job.”
Ms Scott dropped to her knees and performed CPR on Mr Cauchi as emergency crews rushed to the mall. Picture: Twitter
Shop owners and members of the public who witnessed the deadly April attack reported hearing Ms Scott yelling at Mr Cauchi to “drop the knife” and “put it down” before she shot him.
She then dropped to her knees and attempted CPR on the man as emergency crews rushed to the mall.
Mr Cauchi’s victims were Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 25, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.
Twelve other people were taken to hospital, including Ms Good’s nine-month-old baby, who has since been discharged in a stable condition.
Knifeman Joel Cauchi running through Bondi Junction Westfield. Picture: Twitter
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb praised the efforts of officers responding to the scene. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb praised the efforts of officers responding to the scene and said Ms Scott’s actions “no doubt prevented the loss of additional lives”.
“As the Premier has said, they showed a great deal of courage yesterday, but also to the emergency services and of course, the police officers who responded to this very traumatic scene and the actions of Inspector Amy Scott had no doubt prevented the loss of additional lives,” she said.
During Friday’s parade, 169 new probationary constables are expected to be welcomed into the NSW Police Force following four months of in-person training at the Goulburn Police Academy and four months of online study.
They form the first fully paid class of police recruits sworn into the state’s force under the NSW government’s historic announcement last year that recruits will be paid up to $30,894 to study at Goulburn.