By CASEY NEILL
TWO council staff have been applauded for their courage following an attack at Dandenong Library.
Greater Dandenong city planning, design and amenity director Jody Bosman said a man who appeared to be substance-affected tried to enter the building on Thursday 7 April.
A council civic safety officer refused to allow the man to enter and was injured when he was attacked.
Mr Bosman said another officer came to the victim’s assistance and was also assaulted before the attacker fled the scene.
“However, the police attended very quickly and arrested a person a short distance away,” Mr Bosman said.
“Both council officers are now back at work and it is hoped that there will be no long-term effects from their injuries.”
Mr Bosman said the council had a process in place to review any incidents where staff received injuries.
“That process is underway and it will identify whether any changes to security arrangements are required,” he said.
He said the council’s civic safety officers were well-trained professionals.
“The officer injured in this matter displayed extreme bravery in his efforts to prevent this person from entering our library and creating a nuisance or worse,” he said.
“After being assaulted, the officer continued to demonstrate his bravery by engaging with the attacker and preventing him from either entering the library or attacking anyone else.
“The second officer who came to his assistance also displayed extreme bravery in assisting his colleague.”
Mr Bosman said the council was “grateful for the prompt and efficient action taken by the police in attending the scene, supporting council officers and making an arrest”.
A Dandenong police spokeswoman said a 20-year-old Dandenong man was under investigation for offences of assault.
She said police were maintaining patrols in the area.
