Unit completes probe into police officer’s shooting

INVESTIGATIONS into the shooting of a police officer in Northern by his colleagues have been completed, with the attention of the Internal Affairs Directorate now focused on interviewing those who were with the officer when he was shot.
Internal Affairs Directorate director Supt Emil Alpha said the verification of the types of firearms used and forensic evidence would be looked at by the officers investigating, with interviews to be conducted with the injured commander.
“The team will be travelling to Lae to conduct separate interviews with the commander, a police constable and a soldier, who were with the officer when shots were exchanged,once funding is ready,” Supt Alpha said.
Earlier in July, a shoot-out occurred between officers from the Northern province command, a mobile squad senior officer, two members of the PNG Defence Force and the police at Karisou village, Safia LLG.
In the ensuing battle, a local man was killed with the senior officer severely injured and airlifted to Lae the day after the incident.
The senior police officer was shot by his colleagues after it was alleged that he opened fired on a police taskforce team in the province.
The officer was shot in the shoot-out after negotiations for his return to see the provincial police commander went awry between him and two officers from PNGDF and the constabulary.
However according to eyewitnesses in the Musa area, the police officers from Popondetta were intoxicated during the shoot-out.