New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb speaking to media about the tasering of a 95-year-old woman. Photo: Supplied/ ABC News
By Danuta Kozaki, Adriane Reardon, and Greta Stonehouse, for ABC
The next few days will be "critical" for a 95-year-old woman who was tasered by a New South Wales police officer the state's police commissioner says.
Great-grandmother Nowland reportedly remained in a critical condition at Cooma Base Hospital after the incident at residential aged care facility Yallambee Lodge, where she fell and hit her head on Wednesday, after being tasered by a police officer.
Earlier this week, ABC said a senior constable with 12 years of experience was with his partner when they were called Yallambee Lodge after reports of a patient with a knife. And NSW Deputy Commissioner Peter Cotter told media that Nowland was carrying a serrated steak knife.
Commissioner Karen Webb said she had since visited Clare Nowland's family at Cooma Base Hospital, and was "concerned" by what had happened.
"We all want to know and understand what happened, but also why it happened," she told reporters today.
"She remains stable at this stage, but certainly, the next few days will be critical, and is likely going to be very difficult for the family."
The police commissioner would not confirm whether the officer involved had been officially stood down, but said he was no longer in the office.
"The officer is being supported by his command and others. He is not coping in the workplace, so his welfare is being monitored," she said.
Clare Nowland remains in a critical condition at Cooma Base Hospital. Photo:
She described the mother of eight children, who also has 24 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren, as a keen golfer and "very community-minded".
The police commissioner said any speculation would not afford procedural fairness for the officer.
"In the meantime, we will deal with the facts."
Locals said other means should have been used to subdue Nowland, and labelled the tasering as "disgusting".
Police are reviewing body-camera footage of the incident, which they have described as "confronting".
Christian Wood from the nearby town of Dalgety said it should never have escalated to the point a taser was needed.
"A 95-year-old woman being tasered is a bit hard to swallow, to be honest," he said.
"No matter the circumstances, it probably should never have got to that stage where she had to be tasered."
He also questioned the police investigation.
"Police are not likely to put their hand up and claim fault and obviously we have just got to wait and see what comes out of it.
"They will run their investigations and something will come out of it, but it is disgusting. It is disgusting."
Wood said his thoughts were with Nowland and her family.
"I just hope for Clare's sake, I hope the truth comes out and I hope it is all sorted out. All the best to her family and I hope she gets through it."
On Friday, NSW Deputy Commissioner Peter Cotter said Nowland had not dropped the knife as police tried to negotiate with her.
Police confirmed she had been using a walking frame as she approached the two officers slowly.
Assistant Commissioner Cotter said homicide squad detectives attached to State Crime Command had been called into the inquiry.
The Australian Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) was also conducting a critical incident review.
An LECC spokesman said the commission was independently monitoring the investigation ... to ensure "public confidence in the investigation".
Cooma resident Robert Finch said the use of a taser against someone so elderly was unnecessary.
"Police should not have tasered her," Finch said.
"She has dementia and she could not control herself. They could have arrested her without it. There was no need for a taser.
Better understanding of dementia needed - Australian National Older Women's Network
President of the Australian National Older Women's Network Beverley Baker said she was shocked a taser was used against an elderly and frail woman.
"Words fail me. I think the police need better training on the use of tasers and more emphasis on the history of the person," Baker said.
"I mean this lady has a fabulous history of community engagement, generosity, kindness - but to taser her to stop a 'violent' crime is just completely and utterly over the top."
She said there needed to be a greater understanding of dementia.
"There really does need to be a lot more understanding of the way dementia works," Baker said.
"What are the triggers, what are the things that can be used to walk people back - a more gentle, a more generous approach to people having an episode."
NSW Police said the duties of the senior constable who tasered Nowland were under review.
-ABC
