A police officer killed in central Nelson early on New Year’s Day is being remembered as a “beautiful soul” and an “outstanding police officer”.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers confirmed the death of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming this afternoon following the incident that also saw a colleague critically injured.
A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene after being tasered by other officers. Fleming and Adam Ramsay were struck by a vehicle in the Buxton Square carpark around 2.10am.
The Police Minister has called the situation “tragic” and the mayor described it as “reckless” and “heart-wrenching”.
Chambers said Fleming, 62, and Ramsay had been conducting a foot patrol in the area before the incident.
“A vehicle drove at them at speed and collided with them. The injuries that they sustained were critical.”
Chambers said the vehicle then turned around, ramming a police patrol car.
“In that police car was another colleague of ours and a member of the public.
“This was an unprovoked and senseless act. There was, it would appear at this stage, no indication that what was about to occur occurred.”
Chambers said two members of the public were injured in the incident, and a third officer suffered a concussion. A woman received a broken arm and is likely to undergo surgery this afternoon. A man who came to assist the officers received an injury to his shoulder.
Fleming and Ramsay were taken to hospital in a critical condition, where health staff worked through the night. Fleming died shortly before 1pm today and was surrounded by her family.
Ramsay remains in a serious condition and would soon go into surgery.
“He is likely to make a full recovery,” Chambers said.
“I have had the opportunity to visit the hospital to speak with Adam, his family and also the family of Lyn and some of my other colleagues.”
Chambers said the concussed officer would also make a full recovery.
The 32-year-old man will appear in the Nelson District Court on Friday. He will be charged with “serious criminal offences”, Chambers said.
‘Beautiful soul’ and ‘outstanding police officer’
Chambers said Fleming was a daughter, a mother, a wife and a “well-known and highly respected” member of the Nelson community.
She had been with the police since 1992 and was the area response manager in Nelson.
“She was a beautiful soul, she was an outstanding police officer, and even I had the privilege of working alongside Lyn between 2012 and 2014.”
“Lyn’s qualities as a police officer are something that all New Zealanders can be proud of.”
He said that the police’s priority was to support Fleming’s family, Ramsay and his family, and police staff across the country.
“The strength of the police family is something that we are all very proud of, and it’s times like this that we do come together with strength to support each other through this.”
Witness describes seeing vehicle ‘sideswipe’ police car
A 19-year-old university student who helped administer first aid to the officers immediately following the incident told 1News he had gone outside to get some air.
Ben Pawsey said he saw a vehicle “sort of sideswipe” the police car. He said there were around 150 people in the area.
“I think first he sort of swung around the cop car. Then he came around again and went straight nose to nose with [the police car]. Radiators, a bit of steam and a poor male officer hit his head pretty hard. I don’t know whether it was the car or not.”
Pawsey said he and another man ran towards the officers and put “jerseys below [their] heads” while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
He said the officers were “quick on it” when pulling the alleged offender out of the car and said he was “instantly on the ground”.
“I was more worried about the fella that was injured rather than anything else.”
He said he hadn’t heard any altercation before the ramming.
“Most people just sort of turned their heads when they heard the first side swipe, which was a hell of a bang, and then he came around, and then [we] went, ‘Oh s***, he’s disappeared, he’s gone away’, then he turned around and came back.”
Pawsey said the driver “didn’t really do anything other than just target that one police car and it was just standing there”.
“It was pretty awful”.
A ‘devastating’ day for police – Prime Minister
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was “devastated” by Fleming’s death.
“Police across New Zealand do an incredible job keeping us safe and it’s heart-wrenching for an officer to lose her life carrying out that duty,” he said on X.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Lyn’s loved ones and colleagues and hope for the recovery of those injured.
“This is a devastating day for Police and for New Zealand. Lyn will never be forgotten.”
In a post to X, Police Minister Mark Mitchell described the incident as “tragic”.
“This is devastating and heartbreaking for family, friends, the Police family and for the country to wake up to news like this,” he said.
Speaking to media this afternoon, he called the death “gut-wrenching”.
“They were out at 2am in the morning with their staff, keeping Nelson safe. And they have been targeted in what I consider a very cowardly attack.
“It cuts very deep, and for a minister of police, any minister of police, it’s your worst nightmare when you lose a frontline police officer.”
He said he had been updating the Prime Minister throughout the day.
Nelson Mayor says incident is ‘heart-wrenching’
In a statement posted to Facebook, Nelson Mayor Nick Smith described the incident as “heart-wrenching”.
“This is not how Nelson wanted to start the New Year. Our thoughts are with the critically injured police officers being treated at Nelson hospital, their families and the wider police community,” he said.
He commended Mitchell and Chambers for going to Nelson to support the critically injured officers.
Smith said police were relied upon to keep the city safe, “particularly for special occasions like New Year, and it is heart-wrenching when they are attacked for doing this work”.
“The Nelson community will want those responsible for this reckless violence to be held to account.”