Act of Valour
Three Police officers save terrified woman from knife-wielding husband
It was after 2pm on Thursday when a knife wielding man allegedly threatened to kill his wife at her office in Flagstaff.
Totogo Police Station received a call from the distressed woman. Responding to the call were Corporal Dan Ligairi and his team. They were at Milverton Road on routine patrol. They arrived at the scene at around 2.45pm.
Two Police Officers in another patrol car responded, but were hesitant to approach the alleged attacker.
Corporal Ligairi and his team are from the Police
Special Response Unit and are trained to respond to such situations.
“We arrived at the scene, the (alleged) knife wielding man was attempting to go inside,” Corporal Ligairi said.
“Constable Solomone Navuso was the first one to approach the man. He pulled him and then Constable Jeri Kavekai and Manasa Namala assisted in taking the weapon from the man,” he said.
“We did our job. We are Police Officers full time. It does not matter which place we are, whether it falls within our station or not; as Police Officers we have a duty to respond.” Constable Navuso said the only thing running in his mind was ensuring the safety of the public.
He said he could smell alcohol on the man.
Chief Operations Officer Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdul Khan said under the current co-ordination plans, Police Officers are to respond to their nearest call. “The call comes to the command centre and then we look at the nearest vehicle through our surveillance and communication grid,” he said.
“The Police officers nearest to the scene should respond.”
ACP Khan said effective strategies were in place for the Officers to respond to calls and emergencies.
The alleged attacker was kept in custody at Raiwaqa Police Station. It is believed that the 52-year-old man was angry with his wife over an allegation of infidelity.
Police are urging the public not to resort to violence in such instances.