A Waikato police officer who attended a Hauraki Plains samurai sword attack on two women has been on paid sick leave for a year.
Figures issued under the Official Information Act show 10 police officers have been on sick leave for the previous six months and two of those have beenon leave for the previous year. Officers receive full pay while on sick leave.
It is understood the Waikato highway patrol officer is one of the two who have taken a year's sick leave. He was among the first on the scene of the sword attack on January 21 last year at Pipiroa, where it is alleged Antonie Ronnie Dixon attacked two women.
It is understood the officer knew little of the scene with which he was to be confronted.
Emergency services were called after a man rang and said two women had fallen off the roof.
Renee Gunbie had been beaten with a hammer and her hand had been cut off with a samurai sword, and Simmone Butler had both her hands chopped.
Dixon, 35, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of both women and the later murder of James Te Aute at Pakuranga on January 22. He has been committed for trial.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the number of officers on extended sick leave reflected the increased stress load police faced.
While extended sick leave was not just for stress, he said management had developed better practices for dealing with work-related stress and getting staff back to work, but they still faced more pressures.
An increase in the use of the drug P, linked with violent crimes, added to the problem, he said.
Acting Waikato district commander Inspector Bruce Scott said police were dealing with more incidents of violence that caused them stress, but procedures had improved to help staff deal with it.
Police human resources general manager Wayne Annan said stress-related illness was not separated from other types of sick leave.
He said police worked under a rehabilitation policy in consultation with the officer and medical specialists. Officers would return to work when they were given medical clearance by a specialist.
