A police officer in Australia has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a 95-year-old nursing home resident who was Tasered by the officer. The incident occurred on January 16, 2021, at the facility in New South Wales and resulted in the woman’s death three days later.
The incident began when a resident at the nursing home became disruptive and the officers were called to intervene. The female police officer, whose identity has not yet been released, fired a Taser at the elderly woman. Initially, the facility found the officer had acted within police protocols, but in light of the woman’s subsequent death, police have now charged the officer with manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Adam Costello, the NSW police commissioner, expressed sadness at the outcome of the case and issued an apology to the deceased’s family. He said “On behalf of the NSW Police Force, I extend my sincere condolences to the family of the woman. This is a tragic event which has deeply impacted the family and we are here to support them.”
The incident has sparked outrage among various sectors of the community, and many are questioning the appropriateness of using a Taser on an elderly woman in a nursing home. The incident has also served as a reminder of the need for de-escalation techniques in such situations, and the importance of officers being aware of the potential risks posed by some of their actions.
The case is currently being handled by the NSW police, who are also conducting an independent review of the incident. The officer who fired the Taser has been suspended until the investigation is complete. The outcome of the case is likely to play an important role in determining the appropriateness of the use of a Taser in this situation, and in similar incidents in the future.
This case has shaken the community, and highlighted the need for better training for police officers and nursing home staff in how to handle such situations. Ultimately, it’s important that those responsible for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable individuals take care to ensure that these tragedies don’t occur in the future.