Please attribute to Police Commissioner Andrew Coster:
Chief Constables Jim Manning and Scott Carmody of Christchurch today received the New Zealand Bravery Decoration for their actions in the March 15 terrorist attacks.
The two officers risked their lives in 2019 to apprehend the now convicted terrorist.
A detailed account of their actions is available in the quote below.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the honors were a welcome recognition of the extreme courage the two officers displayed that day.
“As police officers we prepare for the worst and hope it never happens, but on March 15, 2019 the worst really happened in Christchurch.
“Senior Constables Carmody and Manning put themselves in extreme danger to stop the shooter and prevent further damage to the community.
“I am proud and delighted to see the bravery and skill of these experienced frontline officers recognized by the nation through these awards. “
The two officers say they are honored to receive these awards.
“To receive this honor is an immense privilege, but any police officer in this situation would have done the same,” said Chief Constable Manning.
Senior Agent Carmody said the couple wanted to thank the victims of the attacks as well as their colleagues who were also working that day.
“The victims and their loved ones will always be at the heart of our concerns. And there were many, many people involved in the response, including many of our fellow police officers, ”he said.
“This award is really for each of our colleagues involved in this response. All were ready to put themselves in danger, and it could have been any of them who encountered that car that day.
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price said we all needed heroes on this day.
“Those who responded, from community members to police and other first responders, are true heroes. We honor them all today.
“I am immensely proud of Jim and Scott – their quick and clear thinking has definitely saved lives. Our communities are safer because of their knowledge, their experience and, of course, their bravery.
“Jim and Scott are incredibly humble, but these awards are an important symbol of more than just two heroic people, they say something about who we are as New Zealanders.
“I also want to acknowledge the large number of police personnel, local and national, who were also involved in the days, weeks and months following these horrific attacks. I am extremely proud of their actions and the work they continue to do to keep our communities safe.
Senior Constable Manning joined the New Zealand Police in 1987 while Senior Constable Carmody joined the Police in 1993. Both have worked in the Canterbury District for the past 28 years.
The New Zealand Bravery Decoration is the third highest Bravery Award after the New Zealand Cross and the New Zealand Star of Bravery.
Note for media: Both officers politely decline any media inquiries and request that the media not contact them directly.
Chief Constables Carmody and Manning first told their story publicly to Ten-One Police Magazine. This story will be published later today.
The decoration of New Zealand bravery
NZBD
Senior Agent Scott Eric CARMODY
For an exceptional act of bravery in a situation of danger
On March 15, 2019, Chief Constable Scott Carmody and a colleague were attending a day of firearms training exercise in Christchurch, when they learned about the shooting at Al Noor Mosque.
Shortly before 1:40 p.m., a sniper launched an attack targeting two mosques in Christchurch: the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue and the Linwood Islamic Center on Linwood Avenue. The shooter, armed with semi-automatic shotguns and assault rifles, with several hundred cartridges, shot dead 51 people and injured 89 others, many seriously, during his attacks on the two mosques.
Senior Constable Carmody and his colleague, both experienced officers, considered the gunner’s options and drove into a patrol vehicle, armed with police weapons, until they believed to be his possible exit from the city.
Officers observed a vehicle matching the description of the gunman’s vehicle weaving through traffic on a busy residential street and began to follow it.
The shooter’s vehicle stopped at a red light and once traffic resumed Senior Constable Carmody and his colleague identified a window of opportunity to stop the vehicle and prevent the gunman from inflicting further casualties. life or injury.
Senior Constable Carmody and his colleague intentionally collided with the target vehicle and positioned themselves for immediate response action. The impact hijacked the target vehicle and cornered the front of the police vehicle on the driver’s side, and officers quickly exited the vehicle with their weapons at the ready. Chief Constable Carmody took up a position at the rear passenger door of the gunner’s vehicle with his service weapon pointed at the gunner.
The other officer was also covering the gunman from the front of the patrol car. They observed two guns in the front passenger seat and near the shooter’s knees, and saw that the shooter was wearing a bulletproof vest with a large knife attached. Officers decided to remove the gunman from the rear of the vehicle. Senior Constable Carmody’s colleague moved to the rear of the gunner’s vehicle and opened the hatch, observing a number of full gasoline containers, arranged in a configuration that appeared to be designed as an improvised explosive device.
Chief Constable Carmody covered his colleague, who forcibly removed the gunman from the vehicle. The two policemen then dragged him a short distance, handcuffing him and securing him as he passed.
The decoration of New Zealand bravery
NZBD
Senior Agent James Andrew (Jim) MANNING
For an exceptional act of bravery in a situation of danger
On March 15, 2019, Senior Constable Jim Manning and a colleague were attending a day of firearms training exercise in Christchurch, when they learned of a shooting at Al Noor Mosque.
Shortly before 1:40 p.m., a sniper launched an attack targeting two mosques in Christchurch: the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue and the Linwood Islamic Center on Linwood Avenue. The shooter, armed with semi-automatic shotguns and assault rifles, with several hundred cartridges, shot dead 51 people and injured 89 others, many seriously, during his attacks on the two mosques.
Senior Constable Manning and his colleague, both experienced officers, considered the gunner’s options and drove into a patrol vehicle, armed with police issued weapons, until they believed to be his possible exit from the city.
Officers observed a vehicle matching the description of the gunman’s vehicle weaving through traffic on a busy residential street and began to follow it.
The gunner’s vehicle stopped at a series of red lights, and once traffic resumed, Senior Constable Manning and his colleague identified a window of opportunity to stop the vehicle and prevent the gunman from inflicting damage. other loss of life or injury.
Senior Constable Manning and his colleague intentionally collided with the target vehicle and positioned themselves for immediate response. The impact hijacked the target vehicle and cornered the front of the police vehicle on the driver’s side, and officers quickly exited with their weapons at the ready. Senior Constable Manning took up a position in the right front corner of the patrol vehicle with his service weapon pointed at the shooter.
The other policeman positioned himself on the passenger side of the vehicle covering the gunman. They observed two guns in the front passenger seat and near the shooter’s knees, and saw that the shooter was wearing a bulletproof vest with a large knife attached. Officers decided to remove the gunman from the rear of the vehicle. Chief Constable Manning moved aft and opened the hatch, where he saw a number of full gasoline containers arranged in a configuration that appeared to be designed as an improvised explosive device.
Chief Constable Manning, with his gun in his hand and his colleague covering him, forcibly removed the gunman from the vehicle, and the two officers dragged him a short distance, handcuffing him and tying him up in the process.
ENDS
Posted by Police Media Center
