Coming face-to-face with an armed criminal

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"When we come face to face with an armed culprit, we must observe and analyse the situation very carefully before making any response. A bold but unplanned action will not help the situation."

So said Sergeant Kwok Chin-kuen who recently managed to seize a knife from a robbery suspect who had taken a woman hostage during a standoff with Police in Sheung Shui. The disarmed suspect was eventually arrested by the Police at the scene.

The Sheung Shui Division Patrol Sub-unit 1 officer told OffBeat that he took the initiative to disarm the suspect only when presented with an opportunity to do so.

"I don't think I was being extra brave in this incident. I knew I could rely on back-up from colleagues at the scene. So when I noticed that he had become distracted by the noise and bustle around him, I just grasped the opportunity to wrest the knife from him."

Sustaining minor injuries to his finger, Mr Kwok said that he was glad that nobody else was hurt in the incident.

This was just one of the several incidents during his 20 years of service that he had been confronted with an armed suspect. "Just two months after I joined the Force, a man attempted to snatch my colleague's service pistol while we were on patrol in Wan Chai. Fortunately, we managed to resist, subdue and arrest him on the spot.

"For an inexperienced young officer like me, that experience was a clarion call to remain constantly on the alert for the unexpected,"Mr Kwok continued.

Another haunting experience for Mr Kwok occurred ten years later in North Point when he exchanged fire with armed robbers fleeing the scene of a crime.

"Four robbers coming out of a jewellery shop fired two shots at my partner and I. I hurriedly took shelter and fired two shots at a vehicle they were boarding. Unfortunately they still managed to leave the scene."

Mr Kwok advised all frontline officers to be prepared for a sudden life-threatening situation.

"First, we should always pay special attention to high-risk establishments, such as banks, jewellery shops etc. When those places are in trouble, which are the quickest and safest ways to get there? Is there anything nearby that can offer shelter? We should make sure that we know the answers to all these questions in respect to the establishments on our beat."

"Second, we should keep in good physical condition because sometimes we may have to deal with suspects of strong build. If we are physically fit, we can greatly minimise the chances of getting hurt. That's why I exercise regularly in my leisure time."