People have been left furious by one particular word in a statement from police announcing the death of a 95-year-old woman with dementia who was tasered.
Great-grandmother Clare Nowland, 95, died on Wednesday, one week after she was tasered by a police officer at her nursing home in Cooma, Australia.
Police had been called to Yallambee Lodge at around 4:00 AM on May 17 after Nowland was seen in a small treatment room with a steak knife.
After attempting to convince her to drop the knife, a police officer deployed his Taser when she began slowly walking towards them with her walking frame. After being tasered, she fell to the floor and hit her head and was left in critical condition, before dying a week later in hospital.
New South Wales (NSW) Police released a statement confirming Nowland's death, telling the public: "It is with great sadness we confirm the passing of 95-year-old Clare Nowland in Cooma tonight (Wednesday, May 24, 2023).
"Mrs Nowland passed away peacefully in hospital just after 7pm this evening, surrounded by family and loved ones who have requested privacy during this sad and difficult time.
"Our thoughts and condolences remain with those who were lucky enough to know, love, and be loved by Mrs Nowland during a life she led hallmarked by family, kindness and community."
The statement sparked fury from many for the claim that Nowland died "peacefully", given the traumatic events that ultimately led to her death.
While comments were turned off on the force's original Facebook post, many took to Twitter to condemn the police's actions in light of the statement.
One tweeted: "Passed peacefully" (after being tasered by a NSW police officer and cracking her skull as she fell)...but okay. Sincere condolences to Clare Nowland's loved ones."
Another added: "Clare Nowland was killed by NSW Police. To then describe this as “passed away peacefully” is macabre."
A third commented: "Vale Mrs Nowland. I weep for you and your loved ones. If only you had been able to finish your long life peacefully. If only police were taught how to handle more situations "peacefully"!"
One wrote: "I understand Police Media stated "Mrs Nowland died peacefully in her sleep." !
Spin doctors!! What they meant was - Mrs Nowland never regained conscience after being twice tasered by a police officer. Shame on them."
Care staff had called police in the early hours of May 17 after finding the dementia patient in possession of a knife, but many have criticized officers for tasering the elderly woman rather than disarming her another way.
Police had revealed that the 33-year-old senior officer had discharged his Taser when the elderly woman began slowly advancing in his direction with the knife.
Nowland fell over as a result of the Taser and sustained a fractured skull and remained "in and out of consciousness" in hospital before being put on "end-of-life" care.
An investigation into the tragic incident is currently underway and police have said they will not be releasing the bodycam footage as it is "not in the public interest" to do so.
Nowland's family released a statement after the incident, thanking the public for their overwhelming support during the "worrying and distressing time".
Their statement described Nowland as a "well respected, much loved and a giving member of her local community" and the "loving and gentle-natured matriarch of the Nowland family", who had been well-known in the local area and even completed a skydive when she was 80.
Our thoughts remain with Nowland's family at this heartbreaking time.
