Officer stabbed on duty to run New York Marathon to help other injured police

20 February 2019, 12:01

A police officer who was stabbed on duty is to run the New York Marathon to raise money to help other injured officers.

Police constable Laura Sayer and her colleague Kenneth MacKenzie suffered serious injuries when they were attacked after going to a house in Greenock, Inverclyde, to support colleagues from a partner agency on June 1 last year.

Pc Sayer suffered a stab wound to her upper arm which severed her sensory nerve, leaving her with nerve pain and numbness to a large part of her arm.

She attended the Police Treatment Centres twice as part of her recovery and is now running the New York Marathon in November to raise money for the charity, which helps serving and retired officers following an injury or illness.

In a message on her GoFundMe page she wrote: "The 1st June 2018 started off like any other day and very quickly became the hardest day of my life because myself and my colleague Kenny were seriously injured after being stabbed on duty.

"When I made the decision to join Police Scotland I knew there was a risk I could be injured but didn't expect to find myself in that situation after five months in the job.

"As a result of a stab wound to my upper arm, my sensory nerve was severed, this was repaired but I have been left with a lot of nerve pain and numbness to a large part of my arm.

"I attended The Police Treatment Centre (PTC) on two occasions, firstly to concentrate on Physiotherapy and then went back to take part in their Psychological Wellbeing Programme, both programmes helped me massively and I cannot thank the PTC enough for all the support they have given me."

She added: "Deciding to run the New York Marathon to raise money for the PTC was an easy decision, I can't think of a cause more worthy.

"The work they do to help serving and retired officers is amazing and the staff are fantastic."

Almost 4,000 serving and retired officers attend the treatment centres each year, according to the charity's website.

William Taylor, who appeared in court charged with stabbing the two officers, has been detained for mental health treatment.

Constables Sayer and MacKenzie have been recognised for their actions, receiving bravery awards from Chief Constable Iain Livingstone during a ceremony at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan, Fife, last November.

They received further recognition for their bravery at the Scottish Police Federation awards along with Constable Finlay Dobson who raced to the scene and subdued Taylor until other officers arrived.

Chief Superintendent Gordon Crossan, Divisional Commander for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, tweeted his support for her run.

He said: "Well done Laura, we are proud of you" and added: "@PTCentres provided psychological & physical care 4 Laura & Kenny, as they do 4 many others.

"Such an inspirational gesture by Laura recognising those who helped her recovery."