Shot cop sure he would die

The actions that cost police dog Gage his own life likely saved the life of a shot officer now grappling with his future.

Speaking to media, with a swollen jaw, Senior Constable Bruce Lamb said the events that unfolded at an address in Phillipstown on July 13 happened "pretty fast'' and were "exceptionally scary''.

Lamb, who was shot through the face, says he was "a hundred percent sure'' he would die on the way to the hospital.

Lamb and colleague Constable Mitchel Alatalo were making a routine house call looking for a psychiatric patient when they smelt cannabis at a property in Buccleugh St.

Upon entering the house, both officers were shot.

A bullet struck Lamb's mouth, shattering his jaw in 15 places while Alatalo was shot through the upper thigh as he climbed out of a window.

Police dog Gage was also shot and died at the scene.

Lamb said the impact of the wound hurt but he did not realise how bad it was until he put his hand to his jaw.

He broke down while speaking about Gage and said it would take a while to get over his beloved dog's death.

His biggest regret was leaving Gage at the scene. He said seeing Gage's body on the road on television was extremely difficult.

Alatalo hoped to get back to light work in the next two weeks but Lamb was unsure whether he would return to the beat.

Lamb had been given a black labrador puppy, Mylo, by the police dog squad but he was not sure if he would go back to front line police as a dog handler.

"I'm not sure right now if I want to do it again. Gage is the best dog I've ever seen,'' he said.

He praised Gage's response and said it saved him from being shot a second time.

Alatalo said events at the house in Buccleugh St went "quickly''.

Before he knew it, he was outside and had ballistic armour on and a rifle.

Only after he realised his leg was stinging was he sent to hospital by Constable Mike Wardle, who was also present. 

Wardle believes he was the ''luckiest'' of all three officers and said there was nothing that could have been done differently by police.

He arranged the police cordon and helped supply Alatalo with body armour.

Lamb had previously been involved in an armed seige in Burnside last year and had been shot at during his career, but had never been hit before July 13.

He had been unable to keep a promise to "never get shot'' he made to his son when the boy was nine.

Lamb would be getting a commendation for the Burnside incident and had received over 1000 cards from members of the public wishing him a speedy recovery.

- © Fairfax NZ News