Victorian police officer to face child sex charge

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December 21, 2010

A VICTORIAN policeman has been charged with various offences including having sex with an underage girl.

The senior constable, previously based at a station in Melbourne's south-east, has been charged with various offences following an Ethical Standards Department investigation.

The man has been charged with procuring a child under supervision or care for sexual penetration, procuring a child under supervision or care for an indecent act, misconduct in public office and supplying alcohol to a minor.

He is suspended without pay and will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court today.

Steroids found in raid on Sydney's Garden Island naval base

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December 21, 2010

STEROIDS have been found in a police raid on Sydney's Garden Island naval base.

After revelations in The Australian today, the Department of Defence confirmed an intensive investigation is under way into what is believed to be a large drug trafficking ring operating at the high profile, inner-city base.

Defence said its investigative arm, Australian Defence Force Investigative Service, led the raid along with civilian police.

"It is too early in the investigation to confirm the nature of all of the substances seized to date, though it can be confirmed that steroids were found," Defence said in a statement.

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"A range of substances and other items were seized and a number of defence personnel were tested for prohibited substance use.

"Investigations remain ongoing and it would be inappropriate for Defence to provide further comment until these investigations are completed."

The statement came as Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the allegations of drug trafficking by sailors at the naval base are being taken very seriously.

Mr O'Connor said he could not comment further because of the investigation.

The Australian reported this morning that a group of sailors - possibly dozens - was suspected of operating a drug distribution network from the base in Sydney Harbour.

Backpackers visiting Sydney were among the drug ring's customers.

Mr O'Connor said the allegations were of concern.

"I am always concerned if there are allegations of drug dealing anywhere," he said.

"I understand that matter is under investigation, so it is being taken very seriously by defence.

"There are criminal sanctions for criminal acts and we would expect people to be treated accordingly and it wouldn't matter whether they were a civilian or a person from the military."

New South Wales Police are also investigating the allegations.

"Further comment would be inappropriate," a spokeswoman said.

Off-duty Victoria Police officers in fight

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December 21, 2010

FOUR men have been injured, with one of them being taken to hospital, after a fight involving several off-duty Victoria Police officers.

The Ethical Standards Department is investigating after the fight broke out outside the Richmond railway station at 1am (AEDT) on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner Ken Jones said he was appalled by the officers' behaviour and promised the incident would be fully investigated.

"I am very concerned and disappointed about this behaviour and I am speaking to all relevant assistant commissioners to ensure this matter is investigated thoroughly," Sir Ken said in a statement today.

"We have a team of investigators viewing the CCTV footage and they are speaking to witnesses in order to get to the bottom of this quickly.

"I will ensure those behaving badly will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

"I can assure the community that this kind of behaviour from police is not acceptable and appropriate action will be taken swiftly against those members who have let the community and the force down.

"No matter who is right or wrong in any argument there is no excuse for anyone to resort to violence in any circumstances."

Turmoil in the police dog squad

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December 19, 2010

POLICE dog handlers accused each other of stalking, assault, bullying and indecent exposure during years of turmoil and division.

One officer was reported for emerging naked from a marked police car after a drinking session, and was accused of separately threatening to kill another handler's dog.

Internal documents reveal the problems facing the state's police dog handlers.

A report says an officer in charge of a drug detection dog spilled out of a police car "entirely naked'' while on assignment in north Queensland in late-2007.

"He walked the entire drive of the complex naked and which was approximately 100 metres long and at no time attempting to cover up his genitals,'' a sergeant reported.

Another colleague reported overhearing the officer discussing drink spiking and drugs at one of the local nightclubs earlier on the same night.

"If you want to loosen women up, just drop a line of cocaine in their drink and you can do whatever you want . . . drop a few eccies and you will stay hard and up all night,'' the officer allegedly said.

Further allegations were made against the handler over alleged intimidation of the sergeant who reported his nude run, including a threat to kill her police dog.

There was uproar in the dog squad over plans to transfer the officer to a general police dogs position, with numerous handlers writing letters to oppose the move.

"It stresses me that he is capable of carrying his firearm . . . after being on stress leave and making threats to kill persons and dogs,'' one senior constable wrote.

A separate sergeant claimed the officer had admitted driving past his house at night and shining a light through a bedroom window.

An email from another officer says: "Past record illustrates that he responds to managerial guidance and discipline by making false allegations against the manager.''

A police dogs training co-ordinator sent an official report in November 2008 highlighting concerns of officers about the handler, who is believed to have since left the service. He was not the only officer to face allegations.

The sergeant who reported his nude runs was accused of bullying by a number of officers and removed from the dog squad for more than a year.

Filmmakers are following some members of Queensland's dog squad for TV series Send in the Dogsdue to air next year, but are unlikely to touch on the long-running infighting in the service.

Police who broke man's leg over taunt may cost taxpayers $200,000 in compensation

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POLICE who broke a man's leg after he taunted them about not being able to park a car could end up costing taxpayers $200,000 in compensation.

The leg of Martin Francis, 46, was badly broken in two places, he lost his job and was out of work for eight months after he was wrongfully arrested in August last year and jammed into a police vehicle outside a Mount Isa nightclub.

Mr Francis yesterday said his leg was "nearly snapped in half" in the tussle with three police.

Surgeons had to pin and screw his bones together during a recovery that took six months.

"I was screaming in pain, telling them they had broken my leg," he said.

"They told me to shut up, that it was a sore foot."

He said his leg was wedged between two seats and broke as he was dragged by the hair and shoved into a police car.

"They were pumped up and looking for action and took their testosterone out on me. I deserve an apology," he said.

Extra police were on duty in Mount Isa on the night in anticipation of trouble over the opening of a Rebels bikie gang clubhouse.

Mr Francis said his troubles began when he was smoking outside the Irish Club and criticised police about a poorly parked patrol car.

His lawyer, Kyle Barram, yesterday confirmed he was negotiating an out-of-court settlement with the Queensland Police Service after a magistrate threw out the case against Mr Francis last July. He ordered police to pay Mr Francis's costs.

Mr Francis said his foot was still numb, he had trouble walking and struggled to do his tyre fitter's job.

In a damning judgment handed down on July 22, Mount Isa Magistrate Cathy Wadley dismissed all three charges against Mr Francis including disorderly behaviour, failing to leave a premise and obstructing police.

She condemned the actions of the three police officers.

She described them as "unreliable" and "inconsistent" in their evidence.

"It is obvious, on the evidence, that Mr Francis's leg was broken at the time of being placed into the police vehicle," she said in her judgment.

"It is inconceivable that any man who has had his leg broken would not scream out in pain."

She said the officers had reacted to a comment.

"This is a case where (they) should have resisted the sting of any insult," she said.

An internal police investigation has been ordered.

The Queensland Police Service did not comment last night.

Police officer watched as woman set alight

December 03, 2010 2:56PM

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A POLICE officer faces disciplinary action over allegations that he failed to intervene in an attack on a woman who was stabbed and set alight at a Melbourne petrol station.

The 42-year-old Bayswater North victim died in The Alfred hospital after receiving burns to almost 100 per cent of her body following the attack on June 2 in the city's east.

Police have not revealed how the off-duty officer's mobile phone footage of the attack was obtained but an internal investigation of the incident has been launched.

"Victoria Police can confirm a police member is facing disciplinary action relating to the off-duty inaction to provide assistance at an incident in Bayswater earlier this year," a Victoria Police spokeswoman told AAP.

No details on the officer's sex, age or rank have been provided by police.

A 40-year-old man has been charged with murder over the woman's death.