In the Cooma community, Ms. Nowland remains in their thoughts, and prayers for her recovery will be offered during a local church service on Sunday morning. She was well-known in the Snowy Mountains region and had been an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church before moving to Yallambee Lodge five years ago.
Police officers responding to nursing homes are “more common” than realized by the NSW police commissioner, according to an aged care expert.
On Friday, Commissioner Webb spent time with Ms. Nowland’s family at her bedside. She described Ms. Nowland as a dedicated golfer and a “very community-minded” individual who has eight children, 24 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren. Regarding the officer involved in tasering Ms. Nowland, Commissioner Webb did not confirm whether he had been officially stood down but mentioned that he was no longer in the office and was receiving support for his well-being.
If you are interested in aged care facilities, head over to Let’s Get Care for more information.
During a press conference held on Saturday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that it was uncommon for police to be called to nursing homes to assist staff with residents. Commissioner Webb said, “In my experience, it’s quite rare that we would be called to a nursing home. It’s not something we come across regularly.”
However, Paul Sadler, a former chief executive of the Aged and Community Care Providers Association and now an independent aged care consultant, countered this assertion. Sadler pointed out that calling the police was “standard protocol” for staff when reporting assaults, and he stated, “It’s more common than perhaps the police commissioner was aware of. We frequently call in [police] to investigate cases of physical assaults and sexual abuse when they occur in the aged care home. That’s usual protocol where there’s an instance of a reported assault.”
The incident involving Ms. Nowland is currently under police review, and it has been described as “confronting.” According to reports, body-camera footage shows Ms. Nowland slowly advancing toward officers with her walking frame while carrying a knife before being tasered.
Father Mark Croker, who knew Ms. Nowland, described her as a dedicated church member despite her dementia, and she continued to participate in church activities. He mentioned her love for knitting and her keen interest in the church’s affairs. Father Croker decided to stay in Cooma for the mass service, expecting a higher turnout due to the traumatic incident.
He emphasized the importance of recognizing Ms. Nowland’s contributions to the community and asked for prayers not only for her but also for her family during these challenging times.
Another priest from Canberra will also attend the service in a show of support.