Anger over police response

Rotorua police area commander, Inspector Bruce Horne. Photo / Alan Gibson

A Rotorua man is angry police took more than 10 hours to respond to a shooting incident at an elderly relative's home in Western Heights.

Dave Paterson has lodged a formal complaint and says he was told officers were diverted to another job.

Rotorua police area commander Inspector Bruce Horne said police were told the incident was historic. If it had just happened, the armed offenders squad would have been sent.

About 13 shots had been fired into Mr Paterson's 95-year-old relative's garage. One bullet shattered a car window, another hit spouting above a bedroom window.

Police were called to the Bell Rd address just after noon on Sunday by another relative. Two 111 calls were made and two to the Rotorua station.

"I want an explanation," Mr Paterson said. "He's 95 and lives alone. I'm very concerned. I don't want people like that running around and it's got to stop.

"He could have been killed, [there's] every chance that could have happened."

The elderly man, who did not want to be identified, said he wasn't aware of what had happened until a relative showed him the bullet holes on Sunday.

Mr Paterson was told by police the man believed to be responsible had been removed from the area by a relative.

Mr Horne said in the initial report to police it was made clear the incident was historic and was not still happening, nor had it just happened.

- APN