A police officer who was allegedly stabbed twice in the head in Sydney’s CBD says he got up and chased the alleged killer because “that’s what I was trained to do”.
Constable Elvis Poa, 35, was carrying out traffic duties at the intersection of Castlereagh and Park streets, near Hyde Park, when he was allegedly attacked with a 30cm kitchen knife at around 1.15pm on Sunday. .
Okan Ozcan, 34, allegedly approached the officer from behind and stabbed him with enough force to fracture his skull in two places, before he allegedly attempted to flee the scene.
Officer Poa, along with his colleague, ran down Park Street toward Hyde Park while yelling at Ozcan to drop the alleged weapon.
Ozcan was eventually Tasered and taken to hospital before being charged with having a knife in a public place causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.
During a press conference on Monday afternoon, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley revealed she spoke to Constable Poa from his bed at St Vincent’s Hospital on the night of the incident.
Constable Elvis Poa, 35 (pictured), was carrying out traffic duties near Hyde Park in Sydney when he was allegedly stabbed in the back of the head.
Pictured: Okan Ozcan, 34, after he was Tasered and arrested for the alleged stabbing of a police officer.
During that conversation, he said, “I was just doing my job.”
Ms Catley told reporters: “All the officers I have spoken to who have been injured in the course of their daily work have been very humble and I can say the conversation last night was no different, very humble.”
She recounted the moment he asked her: ‘How the hell did you get up and chase that (alleged) perpetrator?’
He replied, “Because that’s what I was trained to do.”
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said one of the other officers at the scene had been replaying the situation in his mind, wondering if there was anything he could have done differently.
The commissioner told the officer she did “an incredible job” and should be applauded for the way she reacted to the situation.
Constable Poa was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Okan Ozcan was taken to hospital (pictured) before being released and charged with attempted murder.
Pictured: Constable Poa receives treatment in Hyde Park on Sunday after he was allegedly stabbed.
Commissioner Webb said he was “in good spirits” when he spoke to him but needed to be kept under observation in hospital.
“Two skull fractures clearly show the force that was used,” he said.
Police are still trying to determine what motivated the alleged attack.
After the alleged stabbing, Ozcan ran with the knife and allegedly demanded police shoot him.
He apparently did not drop the knife until he was arrested.
New South Wales Police Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman said during a news conference on Sunday that Ozcan was known to police, but he had no history of mental illness in the database.
He was arrested on the corner of Bathurst and Elizabeth streets and taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, before being released and charged.
Ozcan appeared at Downing Center Local Court on Monday and was refused bail.
He will appear in court again on July 9.