IPCA finds officer justified in firing 14 shots at vehicle

An Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report released Tuesday found a Bay of Plenty police officer was justified in firing 14 shots at a driver who was reversing into a patrol car. The watchdog concluded the officer genuinely believed he faced death or serious harm during the January 24, 2025, incident.

The confrontation occurred on a dead-end forestry road near Tokoroa and State Highway 1 after a man in a balaclava and gloves robbed a shop on the outskirts of Rotorua. The driver, who was using a white Hyundai with stolen plates, had previously rammed police vehicles on January 11 and January 23. During the final pursuit, the driver rammed a patrol car, disabled it, and then reversed at a speed of 30km/h to 33km/h towards the stationary police vehicle.

The officer fired 14 of the 17 available rounds from a Glock pistol, with one shot hitting his own windscreen and 13 passing through the driver's side window. None of the shots struck the driver, who suffered only a small graze on his back before surrendering. The driver later pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to prison.

IPCA chair Judge Kenneth Johnston KC stated the use of force was reasonable because the officer believed the man posed an imminent risk of death or grievous bodily harm. Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Will Loughrin said the response escalated quickly as the offender used his vehicle as a weapon.

How it developed

• Tue 3 Nov, 11:22amThe report specifies the driver reversed at a speed of 30km/h to 33km/h and details the specific number of rounds that hit the officer's own windscreen.

Where reports differ

• Reports vary on the specific dates of the driver's previous vehicle rammings, citing January 11 and 23 in one report and simply 'earlier in January' in another.

Compiled from reports by RNZ, Stuff, Otago Daily Times and NZ Herald.