NSW law enforcement watchdog finds senior officer engaged in serious misconduct after crashing police car

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The state's law enforcement watchdog has found a senior NSW police officer engaged in serious misconduct when he allegedly fled the scene after crashing a work car while drunk.  The new report also found the inspector was given special treatment by his superior officer, forcing the police commissioner to face tough questions

Transcript

00:00It's been labelled a dark day for the state's police force.

00:05The law enforcement watchdog has found that a senior police officer engaged in serious

00:10misconduct when he allegedly fled the scene after crashing a work car while he was drunk.

00:17The report also found the inspector was given special treatment by his superior officer.

00:22Crime reporter Leah Harris joins us now.

00:24Leah, what actually triggered this investigation?

00:26Jeremy, the high-ranking detective was charged late last year, nearly six months after an

00:31incident in Sydney's north.

00:33It's alleged he crashed an unmarked police car in the North Connex Tunnel after having

00:38a significant amount of alcohol with some fellow officers at two CBD venues.

00:42He then drove the damaged car a short distance away and abandoned it.

00:47He's been charged with high-range drink driving and has pleaded not guilty.

00:51His identity is being kept secret under a court order for the next 40 years.

00:56The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission today released its report into the handling of the

01:00internal investigation, which made two findings of serious misconduct against the officer.

01:06The first finding was for deliberately leaving the scene of a car crash to avoid being breath

01:11tested.

01:12The second finding was made for being deliberately dishonest in his answers on the internal insurance

01:17claim form for the car he crashed.

01:20The Commission also found the officer was treated more leniently by his commander, which

01:25led to other police officers losing confidence in the integrity of the police force.

01:30Police Commissioner Karen Webb held a press conference this afternoon to address the findings.

01:35This is a dark day for us, but as has been said and I've said, I've already referred

01:42this matter today to the Professional Standards Command.

01:46The report has recommended the Commissioner consider terminating this officer's employment,

01:51but it stopped short of recommending any further criminal charges.

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