Officer shot by Raoul Moat is commended for bravery

Jul 5 2010 by Sophie Doughty, The Journal

TRAFFIC officer David Rathband was innocently carrying out his everyday duties when he was blasted through the window of his patrol car by enraged Moat.

Working alone and stationed on the roundabout where the A1 meets the A69, his role would have been to ensure the safety of the roads and watch out for offending motorists. But at 12.45am the father-of-two, who had not been involved in the hunt for fugitive Moat came face-to-face with the gunman.

Brandishing what police suspect to be the same shotgun used in the Birtley attack, Moat approached PC Rathband’s patrol car and blasted the 42-year-old through the passenger seat window.

He was seriously injured, suffering gunshot wounds to his face and chest, and last night he was still in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Northumbria Police’s Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim, who has visited her motor patrols officer in hospital, commended him for his bravery.

She said that, despite suffering horrific injuries PC Rathband, who has been an officer for more than 10 years, was able to give his colleagues vital information to help with their hunt for Moat, remaining professional and courageous in the most difficult circumstances.

Mrs Sim said: “Despite being seriously injured he still managed to provide us with extremely valuable information, demonstrating his absolute professionalism in the most extreme circumstances. His family are understandably distraught. All our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this time.”

Last night the roundabout where PC Rathband, who works for the Newcastle Motor Patrols unit, was shot remained closed. The officer was last night still in hospital in a critical but stable condition.