Tomorrow will be five-years since the death of Napier police officer Len Snee.
Five years ago tomorrow, one of the ugliest chapters in Napier's history unfolded.
Yes, it is amazing to think that five years have passed since Jan Molenaar went on the shooting rampage that is now known as the Napier Siege.
Time may have passed, but the police force in this
region as well as the city and its residents will never forget.
Tragically a policeman, Senior Constable Len Snee, was killed and two other senior constables, Bruce Miller and Grant Diver, were badly injured during what was meant to be a routine cannabis check on May 7, 2009. Molenaar's friend Lenny Holmwood received recognition as a hero for being shot himself while trying to stop the enraged gunmen from firing at the police officers.
It is shocking that one man was able to cause so much damage to so many lives and to lock down a city the way Molenaar did. Molenaar's reign of terror lasted 50 hours before he turned his weapon on himself.
