Officers receive New Zealand Bravery Decoration for actions on March 15

Senior Constables Jim Manning and Scott Carmody from Christchurch have today been recognised with the New Zealand Bravery Decoration for their actions during the March 15 terrorist attacks.

Both officers put their lives on the line in 2019 to apprehend the now convicted terrorist.

A detailed account of their actions is available in the citation below.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says the honours were welcome acknowledgement of the extreme courage both officers showed on the day.

“As Police Officers we prepare for the worst and hope it never happens, but on 15 March 2019 the worst really did happen in Christchurch.

“Senior Constables Carmody and Manning put themselves in extreme danger to stop the gunman and prevent further harm to the community.

“I am proud and delighted to see the bravery and skills of these experienced frontline officers acknowledged by the nation through these awards.”

Both officers say they are humbled by receiving these awards.

“Receiving this honour is a huge privilege but any Police Officer in that situation would have done the same thing,” Senior Constable Manning says.

Senior Constable Carmody says the pair want to acknowledge the victims of the attacks as well as their colleagues who were also working that day.

“The victims and their loved ones will always be front of mind for us. And there were many, many people involved in the response including many of our fellow police officers,” he says.

“This award really is for every one of our colleagues involved in that response. All of them were prepared to put themselves in harm’s way, and it could have been any one of them that came across that car on that day.”

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price says we all needed heroes that day.

“Those who responded, from members of the community through to Police and other first responders, are true heroes. We honour them all today.

“I’m immensely proud of Jim and Scott – their quick, clear thinking no doubt saved lives. Our communities are safer for their knowledge, experience, and of course, bravery.

“Jim and Scott are incredibly humble, but these awards are an important symbol of much more of than two heroic individuals, they say something about who we are as New Zealanders.

“I would also like to acknowledge the large number of Police staff, local and nationally, were also involved in the days, weeks and months following these horrific attacks. I’m extremely proud of their actions and the work they continue to do to ensure the safety of our communities.”

Senior Constable Manning joined New Zealand Police in 1987 while Senior Constable Carmody joined Police in 1993. Both have worked in Canterbury District for the last 28 years.

The New Zealand Bravery Decoration is the third highest Bravery Award after the New Zealand Cross and the New Zealand Bravery Star.

The New Zealand Bravery Decoration NZBD – Senior Constable Scott Eric Carmody:

For an act of exceptional bravery in a situation of danger

On 15 March 2019 Senior Constable Scott Carmody and a colleague were at a firearms training exercise day in Christchurch, when they were made aware of the shooting at Al Noor Mosque.

Shortly before 1.40pm, a lone gunman commenced an attack targeting two mosques in Christchurch: Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue and The Linwood Islamic Centre on Linwood Avenue. The gunman, armed with semi-automatic shotguns and assault rifles, with several hundred rounds of ammunition, had shot dead 51 people and wounded a further 89 people, many seriously, during his attacks on the two Mosques.

Senior Constable Carmody and his colleague, both experienced officers, considered the gunman’s options and made their way by patrol vehicle, armed with Police-issued weapons, to what they believed would be his possible exit from the city.

The officers observed a vehicle matching the description of the gunman’s vehicle weaving through traffic on a busy residential street, and began to follow it.

The gunman’s vehicle stopped at a set of red traffic lights and once traffic started moving again, Senior Constable Carmody and his colleague identified a window of opportunity to stop the vehicle and prevent the gunman inflicting further loss of life or injury.

Senior Constable Carmody and his colleague intentionally collided with the target vehicle and positioned themselves to take immediate response action. The impact shunted the target vehicle and jammed the front of the Police vehicle into the driver’s side, and the officers quickly exited vehicle with their weapons at the ready. Senior Constable Carmody took up a position at the rear passenger side door of the gunman’s vehicle with his service weapon pointed at the gunman.

The other officer was also covering the gunman from the front of the patrol car. They observed two firearms across the front passenger’s seat and near the gunman’s lap, and saw that the gunman was wearing a bullet-proof vest with a large knife attached. The officers decided to remove the gunman via the rear of the vehicle. Senior Constable Carmody’s colleague moved to the rear of the gunman’s vehicle and opened the hatch, observing a number of full petrol containers, arranged in a configuration that appeared to be intended as an improvised explosive device.

Senior Constable Carmody covered his colleague, who forcibly removed the gunman from the vehicle. Both officers then dragged him a short distance away, handcuffing and securing him in the process.

The New Zealand Bravery Decoration NZBD – Senior Constable James Andrew (Jim) Manning:

For an act of exceptional bravery in a situation of danger

On 15 March 2019 Senior Constable Jim Manning and a colleague were at a firearms training exercise day in Christchurch, when they were made aware of a shooting at Al Noor Mosque.

Shortly before 1.40pm, a lone gunman commenced an attack targeting two mosques in Christchurch: Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue and The Linwood Islamic Centre on Linwood Avenue. The gunman, armed with semi-automatic shotguns and assault rifles, with several hundred rounds of ammunition, had shot dead 51 people and wounded a further 89 people, many seriously, during his attacks on the two Mosques.

Senior Constable Manning and his colleague, both experienced officers, considered the gunman’s options and made their way by patrol vehicle, armed with Police-issued weapons, to what they believed would be his possible exit from the city.
The officers observed a vehicle matching the description of the gunman’s vehicle weaving through traffic on a busy residential street, and began to follow it.

The gunman’s vehicle stopped at a set of red traffic lights, and once traffic started moving again, Senior Constable Manning and his colleague identified a window of opportunity to stop the vehicle and prevent the gunman inflicting further loss of life or injury.

Senior Constable Manning and his colleague intentionally collided with the target vehicle, and positioned themselves to take immediate response action. The impact shunted the target vehicle and jammed the front of the Police vehicle into the driver’s side, and the officers quickly exited with their weapons at the ready. Senior Constable Manning took up a position at the front right corner of the patrol vehicle with his service weapon pointed at the gunman.

The other officer positioned himself on the passenger side of the vehicle covering the gunman. They observed two firearms across the front passenger’s seat and near the gunman’s lap, and saw that the gunman was wearing a bullet-proof vest with a large knife attached. The officers decided to remove the gunman via the rear of the vehicle. Senior Constable Manning moved to the rear and opened the hatch, where he saw a number of full petrol containers arranged in a configuration that appeared to be intended as an improvised explosive device.

Senior Constable Manning, with his weapon in his hand and his colleague covering him, forcibly removed the gunman from the vehicle, and both officers dragged him a short distance away, handcuffing and securing him in the process.