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DENISE PIPER / Things
Police at the search site near Matauri Bay, north of Kerikeri, Tuesday morning.
The Armed Criminal Squad searched a rural block in Northland after two men shot a police officer in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The incident took place on State Highway 11 near the Puketona / SH10 junction at around 4.15am when a car pulled up in front of the police car and stopped in the middle of the road.
Before the sheriff could get out of the car, two men got out of his car and opened fire on the officer, Northland District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said.
DENISE PIPER / Things
The search is believed to be related to the shooting early Tuesday morning.
The Armed Criminal Squad was called up a block near Matauri Bay, north of Kerikeri, later Tuesday morning after a kidnapping was reported. It is believed to be related to the shooting.
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At least six police cars, including a squad of dogs and more than a dozen members of the Armed Criminal Squad, participated in the search.
The area includes part of a dairy farm, rural houses, shrubs and rural businesses.
It is understood that the police did not find the criminals they were looking for and no arrests have been made.
Police were at the scene for about three hours, but appeared to have finished their examination at 1:45 p.m.
Denise Piper / Things
The area near Matauri Bay includes a dairy farm and rural houses.
Police shoot ‘extremely serious incident’
When the officer was shot, Hill said he immediately retreated, but a shot was fired at the police car, smashing the windshield.
“Fortunately, our officer was not injured, and they quickly left the scene and called for reinforcements.”
The criminals escaped and a team is working to locate them and the car they believe is involved in the “extremely serious incident.”
Hill said it was a “great relief” that the officer was not injured, but that the incident showed how unpredictable and dangerous the job could be.
New Zealand Police / Supplied
Superintendent Tony Hill said he was lucky that the police officer who was shot was not injured. (File photo)
“It is completely unacceptable for someone to shoot a police officer in this way, and we are very lucky that they were not seriously injured or worse.
“We will do everything possible to locate these criminals and hold them accountable.”
Hill said people needed to remember that police officers had families they left behind when they went to work.
“They do this to keep our communities safe and the last thing they deserve is to be shot.”
The Vice President of the Police Association, Marcia Murray, said she was “extremely relieved” that the officer had not been injured.
“It is such a serious incident. It is not only difficult for the member involved, but for everyone, one of our members and their families. “
Murray said police went to work every day to do their job and the incident was an “unwanted” reminder of the dangers of firearms in the hands of criminals.
He said the sheriff would receive whatever support they could be offered.
The association had reached out and was supporting those involved, he said.
The incident closed a section of SH11 from Puketona Junction to Haruru until shortly after 8 a.m.
Before it reopened, a staff member at a nearby cafe said motorists weren’t being let down by Puketona Rd / SH11.
As of 7:40 a.m., no police had arrived to speak to them, he said.
The staff member said that he had seen police in the area around 5 a.m. stopping traffic, but that job had since been turned over to traffic control workers.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact Kerikeri Police at 105.
Alternatively, the information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
