Bravery awards: Napier siege awards

Constable Michael John Burne, Senior Constable Dennis Michael Hurworth and Senior Constable Paul Anthony Symonds
New Zealand Bravery Star
Among the first Armed Offenders Squad officers to arrive at Chaucer Rd, the three officers knowingly exposed themselves to gunfire from Jan Molenaar while trying to recover injured officer, Senior Constable Grant Diver. At least 13 shots were fired at the officers as they took cover behind a wooden fence. The citation said the officers showed outstanding bravery to enter the immediate area, knowing at least one officer had been shot and shots were stilll being fired. They knew their lives were in significant danger, despite being equipped with ballistic armour, as Molenaar was using high-calibre semi-automatic weapons at close range. The citation for Mr Symonds said he made a significant contribution through his radio communication to pass on information on the situation, enabling tactical decisions to be made.
Leonard Rex (Lenny) Holmwood
New Zealand Bravery Star

Lenny Holmwood was at Jan Molenaar's house when he began shooting at the three officers from his balcony, hitting all three. As Molenaar came down to street level, carrying the rifle, he was confronted by Mr Holmwood. He grabbed Molenaar's rifle and tried to stop him from firing again. In the following tussle he was thrown to the ground, and shot in the hip, receiving a serious injury. Mr Holmwood managed to take cover behind a car and was later rescued by AOS officers. The citation said his outstandingly brave actions prevented Molenaar firing further shots at the wounded officers, and even when injured, he attempted to help a wounded officer nearby.
Detective Sergeant Timothy Nigel Smith
New Zealand Bravery Star

Detective Sergeant Tim Smith was among the first officers to arrive at the scene on Chaucer Rd. He was unarmed, but advanced into the scene with colleagues to where civilians Christine Jackman and Garry Fraser were sheltering behind cars. He ordered the two civilians to get clear, and attempted to use vehicles to resue Senior Constable Bruce Miller, who he could see lying wounded, partially sheltered by a low brick wall. Under fire, he reversed up the driveway where Mr Miller was lying, now sheltered by two other police officers. Mr Miller was loaded into the back seat and Mr Smith drove to safety and made him comfortable until medical help arrived. He then returned to the scene and helped to stretcher Mr Diver from the scene. The citation said Mr Smith played a prominent role in the recovery of two police officers, and displayed coolness, initiative and exceptional bravery in rescuing Mr Miller. He then put his life in danger again to join the team rescuing Mr Diver.
Sergeant Heath Courtney Jones
New Zealand Bravery Decoration

Seargant Heath Jones was among the first officers on the scene of the incident. He provided rifle cover from an exposed position near Molenaar's house while Mr Miller was rescued. He then gave his body armour to a paramedic joining the rescue attempt for Mr Diver, but after seeing the party struggle up the hill with Mr Diver on a stretcher, he ran down the hill, without his armoured vest, to join the rescuers carrying him to safety. The citation said Mr Jones twice displayed exceptional bravery by putting his own life in danger during the two evacuations.
Senior Sergeant Anthony James (Tony) Miller
New Zealand Bravery Decoration

Waitakere police officer Senior Sergeant Tony Miller was visiting Hawke's Bay at the time of the incident. Among first on the scene, he found injured officer Bruce Miller and covered part of his body with his own to shield him from further shots. He then helped place Mr Miller in the car driven by Detective Sergeant Smith. Later, when Mr Diver was being brought up the hill on a stretcher, he ran to assist colleagues in carrying the injured officer to safety. His citation said he displayed exceptional bravery and put his own life in danger during the evacuation of Mr Miller, then showed a second display of bravery in joining Mr Diver's rescue.
Constable Kevin Lawrence Rooney
New Zealand Bravery Decoration

Constable Kevin Rooney also helped to shelter Mr Miller with his body while preparations were being made to evacuate him from the scene. He helped place Mr Miller in the vehicle used to drive him to safety, and then withdrew up Chaucer Rd. His citation said he displayed exceptional bravery and put his own life in danger during the evacuation of Mr Miller.
Detective Paul Buckley, Senior Constable Bradley James Clark
New Zealand Bravery Medal
Among the first AOS officers on the scene, Detective Paul Buckley and Senior Constable Bradley Clark found Lenny Holwood lying injured near No 35 Chaucer Rd. Mr Buckley took up a covering position with his rifle while Mr Clark dragged the wounded Mr Holmwood to a position out of sight of the gunman and began dressing his wound. The two officers then lifted Mr Holmwood and dragged him further down the road to a place of safety behind a block wall on Spencer Rd. He was later taken by police car to a waiting ambulance. Both officers showed bravery and dedication to duty in evacuating Mr Holmwood from a place just metres away from Molenaar's house.
Detective Sergeant Nicholas John Clere
New Zealand Bravery Medal
Detective Sergeant Nicholas Clere took charge of police in the immediate area of Chaucer Rd. He formed a plan to evacuate Mr Diver from No 45 Chaucer, and, with an AOS officer, led the party down Chaucer Rd, protecting the team members behind him. He provided cover as the team entered the house at No 45 by standing directly in Molenaar's line of fire. Having recovered Mr Diver, he walked behind the stretcher bearers, providing cover. He displayed both leadership in bravery in the way he managed and led the evacuation.
Donald Garry Fraser, Christine Margaret Jackman
New Zealand Bravery Medal

Garry Fraser and his neighbour, Christine Jackman, met at the top of Chaucer Rd, from where they saw injured police officer Bruce Miller trying to crawl to safety. Mr Fraser drove his car down the hill from Guys Hill Rd to help, and Mrs Jackman followed. Arriving first, Mr Fraser spoke to Mr Miller and called police to advise an officer was down. While checking letterboxes to advise police of their exact location, shots were fired by Molenaar, forcing them to seek cover. Mr Fraser remained with Mr Miller, before returning to his car to attempt to evacuate the injured officer. Three officers then arrived on the scene. Mrs Jackman agreed to her car being used to evacuate Mr Miller, and the two neighbours withdrew up Chaucer Rd to safety at No. 51. The citation said both acted bravely in going to the assistance of a wounded officer, and enabled the officer to be evacuated earlier than otherwise might have been the case.
Advanced paramedic Stephen James Smith
New Zealand Bravery Medal

Stephen Smith co-ordinated ambulance resources at the scene, and provided immediate medical assistance to one wounded officer. He then joined the retrieval party for Mr Diver, walking down Chaucer Rd wearing an officer's body armour. Reaching Mr Diver's position, he prepared him for evacuation and helped carry him back up to the police cordon, where he provided further treatment. The citation said Mr Smith did not have to accompany the rescue party and it was not his job to put himself in harm's way. He acted bravely to ensure urgent medical attention was available to a seriously wounded officer.