The constable remains in the intensive care unit in Wellington Hospital after being critically injured while laying road spikes in the early hours of Saturday. Two teens, 14 and 15 years old, have been charged over the incident.
Walsh was a wing patron for police in late 2023, and had become “quite close” to the recruits during that time.
“I thought, ‘oh gosh, I hope it’s not one of my recruits,’ and then I realised it wasn’t but then I thought ‘I don’t want anyone to be in that situation’,” she said.
“These guys, they go out and risk their lives for us, keeping us safe.”
She had joined in some of the training with the recruits when she was wing patron, and said the situations they dealt with were “really tough”.
The police officers were struck on Kairanga Bunnythorpe Rd just outside Palmerston North early Saturday morning. Image / Google Maps
“I’m a desk job person really, I chair boards and things like that and I never have to put myself in that sort of danger, you know? So I just think we have to be really clear to support those that are helping us out in the community.”
Walsh said she only started the Givealittle page yesterday but was pleased at the “really phenomenal response”.
“The police do a great wraparound job with their injured officers but, you know, there’s always a whole lot of unintended expenses in these situations and so providing some support is really important.
“I just feel really strongly about it and I’m hoping to get even more people involved.”
The page has raised at least $8000 at the time of updating this article.
According to police, the officer had been deploying road spikes on Kairanga Bunnythorpe Rd about 2am on Saturday when a car carrying two youths crashed into the police car he was standing behind, sending him flying several metres into another vehicle.
He was airlifted to Wellington Hospital in a critical condition, while a second officer was treated for minor injuries.
The teens were arrested and charged with a raft of offences, with the older of the two facing a charge of reckless driving causing injury.
Central District Commander Superintendent Dion Bennett earlier described the officer as a “great family man”.
“In his mum’s words, he’s a good bloke – and we think so too.
“There is no shortage of love and support pouring in for him; his family are by his side and staying incredibly strong for him, and we’re also doing everything we can to support them as they navigate this awful situation.”
Police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing; however, the alleged driver, the older of the two teenagers, now faces charges relating to theft, failing to stop, dangerous driving and reckless driving causing injury.
Central District Commander Superintendent Dion Bennett said police were extremely grateful the outcome wasn’t worse when two officers were struck by a stolen vehicle after laying road spikes near Palmerston North.
The second teenager has been charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.
Both are due to appear in the Youth Court on Thursday.
Police said the teenagers had fled after failing to stop for officers on Amberley Ave, but police were not pursuing them when they later encountered the road spikes.
The vehicle swerved to avoid the spikes, struck the police car and then hit the two officers.
The car involved appeared to be stolen but Bennett said he did not know where from.
“We had discovered a stolen vehicle and police followed the stolen vehicle initially. As that vehicle sped away, police withdrew from that pursuit.”
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has been notified, as is standard in such circumstances.
Police Association president Steve Watt said his organisation had contacted the police welfare section and, alongside police, would provide wraparound support for the officer and his family.
The incident again highlighted the “unpredictable and dangerous nature of policing”, Watt said.
“It’s a traumatic event that cuts deep for our whole membership … it really resonates with everyone and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and to our member involved.”
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice, and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 12 years.