\u201cHe\u2019s unable to speak, but he has responded to voice commands, which is a positive step. He undergoes rigorous physiotherapy and speech therapy, so these are small steps in what is an uncertain and long recovery, but also significant steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer, who shares a toddler with his partner, has had his family by his bedside since the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe impact on his immediate family, his partner and his daughter, is significant and has altered the way that they\u2019re living life. Similarly for his parents, who have been with his partner by his bedside from the outset, [it] has meant some significant changes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s loved ones were considering whether they needed to move cities to continue supporting his care, Bennett said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis family have been amazing … I can only imagine that the intensity of the last four or five weeks have been difficult for them to manage as a family.<\/p>\n
Central District Commander Superintendent Dion Bennett says the young officer faces a long recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know what the future looks like, and I\u2019m not sure the medical team are certain yet. What we do know is that this is a long recovery with intensive treatment and rehabilitation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bennett said it was rare for police in New Zealand to be so badly injured in the line of duty, \u201cbut we have suffered them before, and we\u2019ve lost staff to injuries like this or incidents like this previously\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said it had been a privilege to witness police as an organisation and the officer\u2019s colleagues step in to support one another.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not one person in police who I couldn\u2019t go to and ask for help and they wouldn\u2019t drop what they\u2019re doing to support the family in any way they could. His immediate colleagues have been fantastic, absolute professionals, and they\u2019ve got on with the work that they need to do while at the same time caring for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another officer who suffered minor injuries in the crash had recovered and was back at work with his team \u201cdoing really well\u201d, Bennett said.<\/p>\n
Two teenagers have been charged<\/a> over the crash and are due to reappear in the Palmerston North Youth Court next month.<\/p>\n