BC RCMP say six officers across the Southeast District were injured while on the job in the span of four days – including three in Kamloops.
Police say the Kamloops officers were injured yesterday morning while trying to apprehend a dangerous offender during a chase that went across a large part of town and ended up on the Tranquille Corridor.
Southeast District spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says one officer was injured when a police vehicle was side-swiped by the suspect. Another officer suffered a lower arm injury after taking evasive action to avoid being hit by the suspect’s vehicle, while the third officer also suffered a lower arm injury while the suspect was being arrested.
Police also note that two officers in Salmon Arm were injured after police responded to a disturbance inside a home where a distraught 41-year-old Sorrento man was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis.
O’Donaghey notes the officers were able to deescalate the situation and convinced the man to come out and seek medical attention, but note he then lunged at both officers and had to be tased.
Both officers were treated for non-life threatening injuries, and O’Donaghey says one officer suffered a lower arm fracture.
Another officer was injured in Grand Forks on Oct. 3 when a 35-year-old local man began attacking police after they responded to reports of an intoxicated man lying outside a home in the West Kootenay city.
“Each and every day first responders leave their loved ones at home to risk their lives on the front lines as they do their part to contribute to public safety in the communities they serve. Our men and women in law enforcement are no exception,” said Chief Superintendent Brad Haugli, the Southeast District Commander. “Each of these dangerous situations has not only deeply impacted these extremely dedicated police officers, but has also had lasting implications on their families and colleagues.”
“I commend each of these officers for their actions and my team commits to support each officer as they recuperate from their injuries.”
Photo via @grdn_in_the_lot on twitter
