26 November
A principal corrections officer who intervened when he saw a woman being assaulted by a man in Kamo in August was today presented with a Special Commendation Award for his efforts by Corrections Chief Executive Barry Matthews.
Steve Holmes, who works at Northland Region Corrections Facility in Kaikohe, was on his day off and filling his car with petrol when he witnessed the altercation outside a bank across the road. Steve approached the man and used his experience in working with prisoners to try and calm him down. The man ran away and was caught by Police an hour later.
“Steve risked his life to help the woman. Although he didn’t know it at the time the man was holding a knife, and the situation could have been very grave,” says Mr Matthews.
The presentation of the award was particularly poignant for Mr Matthews as yesterday was White Ribbon Day, of which he is an ambassador. Wearing the white ribbon indicates, particularly for men, that violence toward women and children is unacceptable
“At the time Steve said he was surprised at the number of people who stood by and watched the situation unfolding. Watching while someone is assaulted is, in effect, condoning that violence and I am especially proud of what Steve did because his actions were the living embodiment of what the white ribbon stands for.”
“While our staff are fully trained to deal with threatening and hostile prisoners, Steve went above and beyond his duties by putting a stranger’s wellbeing ahead of his own safety. Those actions may have saved the woman from serious injury at the hands of the man.”
Mr Matthews also commended Steve’s views on the situation after it had concluded.
“Steve said that anyone would do the same if they saw a woman being hit. Sadly, if that was the reality, I am sure our domestic violence statistics wouldn’t be so grim.”
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