Clobbered cop turns out to be hero

Friday, 25/2011

By ALEX NJOVU

NOT EVEN a bleeding gash in the head was enough to stop a determined police officer from ensuring two suspected murderers were brought to justice in Luanshya yesterday. 
An instant justice mob injured the officer after mistaking him for one of the two suspects he and his two colleagues were chasing.
The suspects are believed to have brutally murdered a 66-year-old security guard last week by ripping open his stomach.
Copperbelt police commanding officer Martin Malama said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that members of the public saw the three police officers pursuing the suspects and joined the chase to help apprehend them around 17:00 hours.
Dr Malama said as the chase intensified, a woman who was part of the baying mob mistook the plainclothes police officer for one of the suspects and delivered a vicious blow to his head with a thick piece of timber to help apprehend him, inflicting a deep cut on him.
But the injured officer was undaunted. Despite bleeding profusely, he continued with the chase and managed to apprehend the suspects.
“The members of the public and the three police officers in Luanshya were chasing two criminals in town. One police officer, who was not in uniform, was hit in the head with a big plank by a woman after she thought he was actually one of the thieves.
“The officer sustained a deep cut and was bleeding profusely, but he continued chasing the suspects until he and his colleagues apprehended them with the help of the members of the public,” Dr Malama said.
He said the woman has not been arrested because she did not intend to harm the police officer, and has since regretted the mistake.
Dr Malama commended Copperbelt residents for their continued co-operation with the police.
He said he is happy that the police command in the province has continued to receive overwhelming support from various stakeholders in its efforts to fight crime.
Dr Malama commended the injured police officer for his commitment to duty.
“You can see that we have very hardworking officers. When this police officer was hit in the head, he did not stop. For sure, such a police officer deserves a medal for being brave. Despite being hit with a plank in the head, he continued chasing the suspects, who killed an innocent security guard by removing his intestines. These dangerous criminals ripped off the stomach of the security guard, who was working hard to feed his family,” he said.
Dr Malama warned that police will deal with individuals engaging in criminal activities.
“We want to warn criminals who are disturbing the peace of Zambians on the Copperbelt that the Police Service is ready for them. They must find something else to do with their lives instead of troubling members of the public,” he said.