The hero cop who shot dead the Westfield Bondi Junction knifeman after he killed six people and wounded others has admitted the attack was ‘extremely traumatic’ as she opened up about the incident.
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, 39, made a surprise appearance at NRL’s inaugural emergency services match honouring first responders when the Sydney Roosters took on the Canberra Raiders at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
Inspector Scott chased after and shot dead Joel Cauchi after he went on a murderous rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction, killing six innocent lives and injuring another 12 on April 13.
‘The incident was obviously extremely traumatic for so many people so it is difficult to revisit it,’ the hero cop told Nine News after her appearance at the NRL clash.
‘When people are so kind and acknowledge us in the way they have, it’s really helped the healing process, I would say.’
The tragedy rocked the entire Bondi community, where the Roosters’ club headquarters are based.
Inspector Scott said she was honoured to be attend the NRL clash despite being a Newcastle Knights fan.
‘They’re (the Sydney Roosters) from the eastern suburbs and that’s our command. So it’s obviously very close to the heart,’ she said.
Hero policewoman Amy Scott made a dramatic entrance to the inaugural emergency round day – by arriving by helicopter. With her was Jack Lucas, who lost his policeman dad last year. Together they delivered the ‘missing’ game day ball (pictured)
Inspector Amy Scott hands over the football to Roosters Captain James Tedesco
The hero policewoman was part of a pre-match skit, where emergency responders and specialist police units joined forces to look for a ‘missing ball’.
A video was shown of the football being retrieved by water police and other emergency services teams.
A helicopter landed in the middle of the field where Inspector Scott disembarked to deliver the match ball, much to the delight of the crowd.
The Roosters were unable to cement a top two spot, going down 14-12 after missing a try conversion after the siren which would have sent the match into golden point .
Inspector Scott ran to the fifth level of the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre on April 13 after being alerted that a man was on a stabbing spree.
Inspector Amy Scott (pictured was proud to be part of the inaugural NRL clash dedicated to emergency service responders
She confronted Cauchi and fatally shot him in the chest when he refused to drop the knife.
‘I was just doing my job that day, absolutely,’ Inspector Scott said.
‘It was a job I hoped the community would expect from us. I know any of my colleagues would have done exactly the same. I’m grateful that we were able to get there and do what we did as quickly as we did.
‘Look, I’m a very big believer in taking the support that is offered to you. I had done that significantly prior to anything that happened at Bondi.’
She also revealed she was back at work as she paid tribute to her wife of six months Emma for her support in recent months.
‘I’m enjoying being back at work. I actually just had some annual leave, which was nice,’ Inspector Scott said.
‘I love my job, I love where I work and I love my team. I’m grateful to be there with them doing day-to-day stuff again. It is (a thankless task) at times, absolutely.
The policewoman said the Bondi stabbing rampage had been ‘extremely traumatic for so many people’ and that is was ‘difficult to revisit it’ (pictured Joel Cauchi with the knife he used to stab and kill six people and injure 12 on April 13)
The inspector’s bravery was honoured with the Commissioners Valour Award in late June at Goulburn Police Academy but the self-effacing 19-year veteran did not want to make it about her.
She told a graduating class of 169 new police officers that she was just one example of ‘ordinary people called to do an extraordinary thing’.
‘It’s a healing process and it will be for everybody involved,’ Inspector Scott said.
‘Really importantly are those victims, their families and friends, who will be forever dealing with an unfathomable tragedy
Cauchi’s victims included mother-of-one Ash Good, 38, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young , 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, and international student Yixuan Cheng, 27, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.
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