NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb says a court will need to determine if two officers used excessive force after an elderly man suffered a fractured elbow and “significant bruising to his head and arms” after an incident in Sydney’s south-west.
The officers responded to two triple zero calls made seven minutes apart, from an elderly woman at a home at Campbell Street, Picton, after 8.45pm on January 21.
The calls were reportedly domestic violence related but resulted in a 92-year-old allegedly being injured by officers and admitted to hospital as a result of the interaction.
Webb said she thought it was likely that the elderly woman who made the calls had dementia.
“Police officers are called to matters like this and they don’t know what they were walking into,” Webb said.
“It’s obviously a complex matter when you’ve got someone elderly, someone who has mental decline through dementia… that can’t actually articulate any concerns to police properly and that will all form part of the investigation and the police response.”
Webb said she watched the bodyworn footage one hour before talking to the media but couldn’t comment on what she saw as the matter was now before the courts.
She said the male senior constable and a male constable were experienced but weren’t veterans.
She confirmed the investigation began the day after the incident from an immediate internal review and that the officers were on station duties before they were suspended with pay today.
The injured man has received support from police.
“We are concerned for his welfare, we have officers with him today… That gentleman has had support through the NSW Police since the incident,” Webb said.
Webb said it was too presumptuous to speak about a training review in response to that case, as it was still under investigation.
“We respond to over two million calls for service… over 140,000 just domestic violence and I have confidence officers are responding to those calls the majority of times.
“If there are occasions where we do have concerns about the way we respond then we will investigate like we’ve done in this matter, we commenced an investigation the very next day.”
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the incident was a “very serious matter”.
“My thoughts are with the man and his family,” she said.
“I am advised that the NSW Police Force commenced an internal investigation the day after this incident. As a result, two officers have been charged and suspended from duty.
“The NSW Police Force respond to tens of thousands of these calls for service each year. In almost all instances they do so professionally.
“In the rare cases where the response does not meet the expected standard, it is investigated and action is taken.”
One of the officers will appear at Campbelltown Local Court on July 30.
The other is due to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on August 6.