Female Police Officer Who Fled Stabbing Scene Argues, "Should I Have Been Stabbed Instead of the Victim?"

2021 Incheon Stabbing Incident Police Dismissed for Poor Response
"Should I Have Been Stabbed Instead?" Excuse
Prison Sentence with Extended Probation Period in Appeal Trial

Two former police officers who were dismissed for inadequate response, including fleeing the scene while the perpetrator wielded a weapon during a stabbing rampage in Incheon in 2021, received harsher sentences in the appellate court.

The 1-3 Criminal Appeals Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Soo-min) overturned the original sentence on the 25th and sentenced former Sergeant A (50, male) and former Police Officer B (26, female), who were charged with dereliction of duty, to one year in prison with a three-year probation, instead of the previous one year in prison with a two-year probation, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The court also increased the community service hours previously imposed in the first trial from 120 hours to 400 hours for A and 280 hours for B, respectively.

The scene of police officers dispatched during the inter-floor noise stabbing incident in Incheon in November 2021 [Photo by Yonhap News]

Former Sergeant A and former Police Officer B were indicted without detention for their inadequate response when dispatched to the scene of a stabbing rampage that occurred on November 15, 2021, at a villa in Namdong-gu, Incheon. The incident arose from a conflict over noise between floors, where Mr. C (51, male), who lived upstairs, inflicted injuries on three members of the family living downstairs.

Despite the perpetrator wielding a weapon against a woman in her 40s residing downstairs, the two officers left the scene without intervening or protecting the victim. As a result, the victim was stabbed in the neck, lost consciousness, and underwent major surgery. Her husband and daughter also sustained injuries to their faces and hands, receiving hospital diagnoses requiring 3 to 5 weeks of treatment.

Regarding this, former Sergeant A claimed he left the scene to make a radio call because "the radio signal inside the building was poor," while former Police Officer B stated she could not remember the incident, saying she went into a "blackout" state after seeing the spurting blood, drawing criticism. After the incident, both officers were dismissed for violating their duty of diligence. They filed administrative lawsuits claiming the disciplinary actions were unfair but lost.

The scene of police officers dispatched during the inter-floor noise stabbing incident in Incheon in November 2021 [Photo by Yonhap News]

On this day, the appellate court stated, "While the defendants took no action and left the scene, the victim suffered serious injuries from the perpetrator," adding, "Common sense dictates that as police officers, they should have restrained the perpetrator and separated him from the victim." The court also reprimanded, "Former Sergeant A made an incomprehensible excuse that he went outside the villa to call an ambulance, and former Police Officer B also made excuses, asking, 'Should I have been stabbed instead of the victim?'"

The court further noted, "Meanwhile, the victim’s family fought the perpetrator barehanded and were injured," and "The victims must have felt despair while fighting, and the pride of the majority of other police officers who work diligently was also shattered." However, the court considered that "Former Sergeant A retired dishonorably from the police organization due to this incident, and former Police Officer B, who had only been on duty for six months at the time of the incident, continues to suffer from depression," as reasons for sentencing.

Presiding Judge Lee said in court, "I really struggled with how to determine the defendants’ sentences," adding, "I think it would have been better if the original court had sentenced the defendants to actual imprisonment, and in that case, the appeals would have been dismissed." However, he explained, "The nature of the crime is not severe enough to impose the maximum statutory sentence of one year imprisonment for dereliction of duty, so the probation period and community service hours were increased."

Previously, former Sergeant A appealed on the grounds that the first trial court misjudged the facts and imposed an excessively heavy sentence, while former Police Officer B appealed claiming the sentence was too harsh.

Mr. C, who was charged with attempted murder, received a final sentence of 22 years in prison.