A DETECTIVE whose gun was turned on him by a fugitive is among three
officers to get a combined $21,300 payout after a legal win.
Victoria Police senior detectives Matthew Flood, Travis Merlo and Adam
Radley initially had their application for mental illness compensation by
the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal rejected because the victims'
assistance fund ruled they had access to WorkCover.
The three had been attempting to arrest violent West Australian fugitive
James Lyle Rakatau, 25, at Point Cook when Sen-Det Flood caught him as
he tried to scale a fence.
As they struggled, Rakatau -- who was shouting that he did not want to go
back to jail -- snatched Sen-Det Flood's service revolver from its holster and
tried to fire on the officers.
Sen-Det Flood reached out and jammed his finger between the weapon's
hammer and primer to prevent it firing. Rakatau was then subdued with
capsicum spray.
The Supreme Court was last year told the officers had suffered psychological
trauma and physical injury from the near-fatal experience.
An application for compensation under the Victims of Crime Assistance Act
was rejected on the ground the three officers were entitled to claim under
WorkCover.
But the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled after a hearing last
month that the officers should receive the victims' fund money.
Sen-Det Flood was granted $7500 in special financial assistance and senior
detectives Merlo and Radley allocated $6900 each.
Part of the payment was to be used to cover the cost of holidays the officers
were taking.
Rakatau was last October sentenced to serve at least 2 1/2 years in jail over
the incident after pleading guilty to two counts of recklessly endangering life.
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