By PAUL YANDALL
Waikato rural police are reviewing their staffing and callout procedures after two confrontations highlighted the vulnerability of lone country officers.
The review is being carried out together with an Occupational Safety and Health investigation after one Waikato constable was stabbed and another needed backup while on patrol.
Matamata Constable Rob
Colley was stabbed in the elbow with a screwdriver on Friday morning after stopping a driver for reversing into a power pole.
The driver also allegedly stabbed at Constable Colley's eye, nicking his eyeball.
Several hours later, Raglan Constable Craig Bridgman was forced to seek backup after he stopped a car without registration or a warrant and being driven by a disqualified driver.
Constable Bridgman said two men gave him "grief."
Waikato's acting district manager, Inspector Kelvin Powell, said the police reviews would be used to determine if there was anything that could be done to prevent similar incidents.
"The difficulty is that sometimes it's very difficult to protect yourself from some types of incidents. When you stop a car, you just don't know what's going to happen next."
Both officers were on their own when the confrontations occurred but Mr Powell said there was no guarantee having a partner present would have prevented them.
He ruled out reinforcements for the time being.
"Whatever staffing numbers you have, regardless of the size, you can always make an argument that it's not enough."
But the president of the Police Association, Greg O'Connor, said there was no need for any officer to be working on his or her own.
"In Western Australia, in the remote areas, no country officer works alone - it's just not done. They're always in pairs.
"It can be done here too ... As usual, it's a resourcing problem."
Constable Bridgman said he tried to work closely with the community so that there was always someone available to help if backup was needed.
"Often it just comes down to recognising danger and using your commonsense.
"There's no point being a hero if you're on your own."
Mangakino Constable Murray Stretch was on his own when he was killed last year after chasing a burglar.
* An unemployed Waharoa man will appear in the Hamilton District Court today in connection with the attack on Constable Colley.
A Raglan man is due to appear in the same court today after the Raglan incident and police are searching for another man involved in the confrontation.
