Police officers allegedly shot at by a woman while attempting to carry out a search warrant were very lucky to have escaped uninjured, a senior cop says.
The 37-year-old woman was on Monday charged with attempted murder and several gun offences after the incident at Collinsvale, 20km northwest of Hobart, the previous evening.
Multiple police were at the property and had driven past the front gate when they heard a "crack" sound, Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said.
It is alleged the woman fired one shot from a .22 rifle from about 60m away which hit the front wheel guard of the unmarked police car.
Investigators believe the woman thought the officers, who were in plain clothes but wearing protective vests, were not police, Mr Bodnar said.
"Regardless, it is reprehensible that officers were placed at such risk while performing their duties," he said.
It was "very lucky" the consequences weren't tragic, he said.
Officers were at the property with a search warrant as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
A 38-year-old man at the home was also arrested and charged with gun offences and attempted aggravated assault, while two other people were released without charge.
The man and woman were expected to appear before Hobart Magistrates Court later on Monday.
One detective sergeant and two detective constables who were at property, continued working on Monday and would be provided with support, Mr Bodnar said.
The incident comes about four months after Constable Keith Smith was killed at a rural property in Tasmania while delivering a court-ordered home repossession warrant.
A North Motton man surrendered at the scene and is before court on murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault charges.
In Victoria, two officers were shot dead while attempting to serve a warrant to Dezi Freeman in Porepunkah, about 300km northeast of Melbourne, in August.
Freeman has been on the run since, despite a large-scale police effort and $1 million reward for information that leads to his capture.
"When we reflect on what has happened across Australia in recent years ... it's very concerning for us," Mr Bodnar said.
"Our people are very well trained, they're well equipped, they make good dynamic decisions.
"But what it does reinforce is that policing is a risky business ... despite our best planning, there is always an element of uncertainty."
