Police boss backs officer who Tasered goat
News that a police officer who Tasered a feral goat 13 times would not be charged was met with a one-line response.
‘‘I should think not, and might I add what a giant waste of taxpayers money,’’ a senior police officer, whose name was redacted from released documents, told a Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) official. That email was one of hundreds released under the Official Information Act concerning the incident which unfolded in an Oamaru garage on December 1, 2016.
The MPI emails include concerns the ‘‘graphic footage’’ was likely to be a major media story if released. Stuff sought the publication of the video, which was released late last month after an Ombudsman ruling.
‘‘Police are aware of this and looking at messaging,’’ the email from the unnamed official said.
The emails reveal police referred the incident to the Independent Police Conduct Authority in early 2017 as ‘‘there is significant risk of media and public criticism over perceived actions and decisions taken’’.
Around the same time, MPI investigators began to focus on the case, requesting police Taser policy to check if the Oamaru incident was under their guidelines.
The officer involved, Senior Constable Carl Pedersen, eventually gave a written statement to MPI officials but that document was withheld. An MPI official replied: ‘‘Some very damning admissions made, I think.
‘‘Pedersen raised what was not shown in the video.’’
The MPI official raised concerns the police officer’s written statement lacked detail, including whether the incident was within the police policy and guidelines.
The person noted his statement contradicted that of another witness, who claims she heard the Taser go off prior to the banging and crashing of the goat in the garage. An MPI investigator said the goat was trapped in the garage, and did not seem concerned when people entered, but no attempt to corner and restrain the goat was made.
The investigator noted the Taser was ‘‘inherently painful’’, and there was no plan to capture the animal once it was fired.
A report from the weapon noted while the Taser was fired 13 times, it hit its target a dozen times.
‘‘Unfortunately it was pretty stressed out and quite un-cooperative, so I Tased it,’’ Pedersen told Stuff after the incident.
A vet later euthanised the goat. MPI’s preliminary conclusion was that the goat was illtreated and the tasering was ‘‘unnecessary and unreasonable’’.
Among the tranche of heavilyredacted emails was an email from a police professional conduct manager confirming an allegation against Pedersen was ‘‘upheld’’, and a sanction imposed.
The incident also prompted a new policy guidance that a Taser can be used to deter an attacking animal but not capture an animal that is otherwise not attacking.
MPI previously told Stuff its investigation was hampered by key witnesses, including police, being overseas or slow in providing information.
That included Pedersen declining to be interviewed in person, and only responding to written questions.
The MPI inquiry cost $30,000.
A report from the weapon noted while the Taser was fired 13 times, it hit its target a dozen times.