With the tragic death of Tom Phillips, killed in front of his children, I really want to question why the police failed to abandon the chase. From the alleged PCG Wrightsons ram raid footage, police would have known a child was with him, and they also knew his history of offending alongside his 12-year-old.
New Zealand Police regularly call off pursuits when drivers flee. They are not even supposed to chase motorcycles. If officers knew a child was on that vehicle, there was more than enough justification to abandon the pursuit.
This is not an excuse for Phillips’ alleged actions. Burglary victims would be rightly angry about the damage and stolen stock, and the alleged gunshots that struck an officer cannot be dismissed. The fact remains that a father was killed in front of his child because police made the reckless decision to continue a pursuit they should have called off.
When deaths occur at the hands of police, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) steps in. How independent are they really? Time and time again the outcome is predictable, with everything swept under the carpet.
Look at the case of Kaoss Price. He was unarmed when he was shot dead during a traffic stop on Devon Rd in Taranaki after ramming a patrol car. That was not a cop in genuine fear for their life. That was an officer itching to pull the trigger. The shooting was ruled unjustified, yet the officer faced no consequences. He is likely still out there carrying a Glock 17, waiting for the next opportunity to use it.
Today’s tragedy is on the police. They chose escalation over restraint. Tom Phillips did not need to die in front of his child, and the blame lies squarely with them.
Rest easy, Tom.
