The Nelson police officer convicted of assault has been sentenced to 30 days of house arrest.
In what the judge conceded was an unplanned but nonetheless violent and criminal act Constable Drew Turner – while off-duty – thumped a woman while she was handcuffed in the back of a police car. She was knocked unconscious. Turner had gone to the aid of a fellow officer who had been struggling with the woman.
The judge said the strict house arrest was an appropriate measure to denounce the severe and unwarranted use of force.
The victim – Tawny Campbell – was drunk, lashed out at police and has a history of doing so. But in passing sentence the judge said nothing she did justified Turner’s violent, criminal act which undermined the public confidence in the police.
Crown Prosecutor Deb Drissell – who had asked for a jail term of up to 30 days – Â says the house arrest sends a message.
NPD Constable Nate Holt represented Turner from the Nelson Police Association union perspective.
He couldn’t say if his colleague will lose his job as they now await the outcome of the investigation by the Office of the Police Complaints Commission.