[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] It has been revealed that a male police officer, along with a female police officer who was dispatched to the scene during the recent 'weapon rampage' incident in Incheon, left the scene without protecting the victim.
According to the Incheon Police Agency on the 23rd, Sergeant A of a certain district unit under Nonhyeon Police Station in Incheon was on the first floor in front of the building around 5:05 p.m. on the 15th, right after the incident occurred. Upon hearing screams, he was entering the villa interior with resident B (in his 60s) on the third floor when he saw Police Officer C running down to the first floor, and then they both went back outside together.
Earlier, Police Officer C, a female officer who was dispatched to the scene along with Sergeant A, came down to the first floor after resident D (48) on the fourth floor stabbed B’s wife in the neck with a weapon, citing a request for rescue. Contrary to initial reports, not only the female officer but also the male officer?both police officers?left the scene.
While they left the scene, B’s wife was stabbed with a knife, and their daughter was confronting D. Later, B returned home and subdued D after a physical struggle.
At the time, Sergeant A and Officer C came outside the building and only re-entered the villa after another resident opened the main entrance door. It was then that they fired a Taser at D, who had been subdued at the scene. Sergeant A was carrying a handgun, and Officer C had a Taser. During the Incheon Police Agency’s internal investigation, they reportedly stated that they left the scene to request emergency medical and support assistance.
As a result of the incident, B’s wife was stabbed in the neck, causing vascular damage and progressing to cerebral infarction, for which she underwent surgery. She has not yet regained consciousness.
The police placed Sergeant A and Officer C, both belonging to the Nonhyeon Police Station district unit dispatched to the scene, on standby leave, and the chief of Nonhyeon Police Station was also suspended from duty. It is reported that both officers are currently undergoing psychological treatment at a medical institution due to trauma experienced during the internal investigation.
Meanwhile, Seo Young-kyo, a member of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the same day on 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show,' "This incident is not because the officer was female, but rather an issue of the police force’s capability and qualifications," adding, "Both the female and male officers had problems in their response, which caused tremendous damage."
She continued, "There is talk about the uselessness of female officers, but that is an extreme view," and said, "Countless female officers are playing very important roles in critical areas." Regarding Officer C, she added, "She was appointed and went through a training period before being officially assigned. If that period is less than a year, she is considered a probationary officer."
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