'Police are human': Matthew Hunt's death a reminder of dangers officers face

Monday, 22 June 2020

Lance Burdett says the ripple effect from his death “will be massive”.

The death of police officer Matthew Hunt will stay with the organisation forever, a former cop says.

Hunt, 28, was shot and killed on Friday during a routine traffic stop in the West Auckland suburb of Massey. The incident left another officer and a member of the public injured.

Lance Burdett, the former national advisor for the New Zealand Police negotiation teams, spoke on Breakfast about the emotional toll of an officer's death. He also reminded the public that police are people too.

The fatal shooting of Constable Matthew Hunt made officers realise they aren’t bulletproof.

'Police are human. They go to work to do a job. They don't got to work to do harm or to receive harm and it's like any other job – we think that once you put the uniform on you're a superperson – you're not, you're a human at the end of the day,' Burdett said on Breakfast on Monday.

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Contable Matthew Hunt grew up on the Hibiscus Coast and joined the New Zealand Police in October 2017.

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Waitemata District Commander Naila Hassan sheds a tear when talking about Matthew Hunt, who was shot and killed on Friday.

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Police paid tribute to fallen officer Matthew Hunt at a press conference in Henderson on Sunday June 21.

Burdett has more than 22 years of policing experience and spent 13 years as a crisis negotiator and instructor for the NZ Police.

He said how police officers, ambulance drivers, military and fire and emergency workers all go to work to do good things, and when you're treated unfairly or a colleague is harmed 'it really takes a toll'.

Flowers lay on the grass at Reynella Drive, Auckland, close to where Constable Matthew Hunt was shot and killed on Friday.

'The ripple effect from what's happened around the organisation will be massive and it will go on for months, even years. In fact, it's never forgotten,' he said.

Police gave a emotional tribute to Hunt when addressing media on Sunday.

Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan was tearful while telling media that police were 'absolutely devastated at the loss of our brother'.

'Matt's death is the ultimate sacrifice for someone in our line of work, working to keep the community safe,' she said.

Police spent time with Hunt's mother at the weekend, who was 'dealing with every parent's worst nightmare – outliving their child,' Hassan said.

Police Commissioner Andy Coster said that the police family across the country were mourning the tragic and senseless death of Constable Hunt and their priority was to support his family.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern posted a statement on her Facebook page at the weekend, saying she had a very heavy heart following Hunt's death.

'To lose a member of the police is to lose someone who has committed themselves to look after all of us. They are someone's family member, someone's loved one, someone's work mate and someone's friend.'