Tasered grandmother Clare Nowland: Senior Constable Kristian White suspended from duty
Police Take Action Against Senior Officer Who Tasered 95-Year-Old Grandmother While He Was Dismissed With Full Salary
- Clare Nowland being tasered by Kristian White
- White is suspended from the police force
A senior officer who tasered a 95-year-old great-grandmother has been suspended with pay.
NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White destroyed Clare Nowland with the Taser at Yallambie Lodge Nursing Home in Cooma in southern NSW early last Wednesday.
Ms Nowland, who suffers from dementia and weighs 43 kg, was carrying her walker and a steak knife when emergency services arrived at the nursing home.
She was asked to drop the knife before being tasered. She fell backwards, hit her head on the floor and is now receiving care at the end of her life.
The incident has sparked international outrage and NSW Police confirmed on Tuesday morning that Constable White had been suspended.
Clare Nowland is receiving end-of-life care after being tasered by a senior officer early Wednesday morning
NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White has been suspended with pay
“Today (Tuesday, May 23, 2023), a 33-year-old senior officer associated with the Monaro precinct has been suspended with pay,” the statement said.
“Further updates will be provided as investigations into the critical incident continue.”
Senior Constable White has 12 years of experience in the police force and over the years has been featured on the Monaro precinct Facebook page.
The investigation into Mr White will reportedly focus on what he said before firing the Taser.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer and guards are stationed at the hospital where Mrs. Nowland is fighting for life.
Family friend, Andrew Thaler, also said private security guards had been deployed at the hospital and “screened anyone who wishes to visit Ms. Nowland.”
Mr Thaler has repeatedly summoned Police Commissioner Karen Webb to sit with Ms Nowland’s family for the difficult task of reviewing the body-worn footage of her tasering as she slowly approached officers on her walker.
Commissioner Webb had said she did not want the footage to ‘contaminate’ her opinion on the case.
More to come