Figures released in New Caledonia show 39 police officers were injured in the first half of this year, most them while making arrests.
Photo: RNZ
The French High Commissioner Thierry Lataste said this marked an increase over the same period last year, and only leaves French Guiana with a higher injury rate.
The police commander said so far this year no police officer suffered gun shot wounds, but he said a gunman fired from a car while being pursued by police and hit their vehicle's radiator.
Another officer was hit in the head with a rock while his unit tried to assist a man suffering a heart attack.
The commander Alain Martinez said there were also 47 incidents of violence against police without causing injury.