Police officers in serious condition after stabbing
Man arrested following incident in Greenock as officers’ bravery praised
A man has been arrested after two police officers were stabbed during a call-out in Greenock yesterday.
The Police Scotland officers, PC Kenny Mackenzie, 43, and PC Laura Sayer, 39, were injured at a house in Gateside Gardens in the town.
A 43-year-old man had been arrested following an incident and was also treated in hospital.
Colleagues praised the “incredible bravery” of the two injured officers, who were initially taken to Royal Inverclyde Hospital.
Police said the incident was not terrorist-related and there is no risk to the wider public.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins has visited both officers and said he was “proud to speak to them”.
He said: “Our thoughts are with our injured colleagues and of course their families at this time.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly praise the incredible bravery shown by these two officers during the extremely difficult and challenging situation they faced.”
PC Sayer is a probationer with the force and PC Mackenzie is an experienced officer, Mr Higgins said.
One of the officers was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for further treatment.
Asked about the nature of the injuries, Mr Higgins said: “It’s not been classified as life-threatening at this moment but it is significant and it is serious.
“I went to the hospital and I spoke to both officers. They were in remarkable good spirits.
“I’m blown away by the courage of them. I was very moved and proud to speak with them.”
A large section of Gateside Gardens was cordoned off and forensic officers examined a section of Grieve Road where a shoe and an item of clothing lay in the street.
Mr Higgins said the arrested man was treated for “very minor bruising and cuts and grazes” and his mental wellbeing was assessed “as standard procedure” for a suspect under arrest.
Theincidentcameatthetime the force is to significantly increase the number of officers armed with Tasers.
Mr Higgins added: “Potentially a Taser could have made a difference, but that’s speculative. Greenock is going to be one of the areas where during our roll-out period there will be specially-trained officers deployed.”
Andrea Macdonald, chairwoman of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “Our thoughts are with the injured officers and their families. Once again we see how difficult and dangerous a job it is.
“Police officers put themselves between other professionals and the public and dangerous individuals, sometimes with life-changing consequences for themselves and their families.
“We wish our colleagues a speedy and full recovery.”