Rogue Victorian police officers charged for selling illegal firearms
by Mark Dunn
Herald Sun, Victoria
21 August 2001
MORE than 110 Victorian police officers were charged with criminal offences or breaches of conduct in just 22 months, confidential documents show.
Officers have been charged with rape, sexual assault, fraud, illegal firearm sales, drink-driving and tampering with evidence.
Drug-dealing charges were also issued on at least three occasions, say Ethical Standards Department documents, released to the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information.
Since 1998, 63 officers have been dismissed, with 153 members brought before disciplinary hearings and 270 charges proved.
A senior officer was also charged late last year with conduct likely to bring disrepute after a complaint that police failed to take appropriate action in the lead-up to three murders.
The case is believed to have been a triple homicide near Swan Hill in 1997, but the charge was not laid against the officer until last October.
Police were criticised by a coroner in 1998 after failing to properly investigate death threats made by the killer, Neil William Blandthorn.
In a rare insight into disciplinary procedures, the internal reports describe how a senior sergeant and senior constable were fined after being charged with selling firearms illegally.
Other cases saw an inspector fined after a firearm disappeared from a police safe.
And a senior constable who was suspended without pay continued to collect his money before being charged more than a year later.
Assistant Commissioner Graeme McDonald said the number of complaints against police had fallen by 50 per cent in the past decade but, as in any workforce, some would breach appropriate conduct.
"We have become a far more professional organisation and far more aware of what is expected of our organisation," Mr McDonald said.
"(But) one of our greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses is the fact that we recruit from the human race."
The ESD also noted cases where sackings had been reversed, including a sergeant who was dismissed after drug-dealing allegations and then had the charge dismissed.
In another case, a senior constable was sacked over criminal associations.
Other cases which drew fines, promotion bans and demotions include an incident where a sergeant pointed a firearm at another member, and a group of officers charged after cavorting naked on Anglesea golf course.
Prosecutions include several officers moonlighting and a series of e-mail violations, one resulting in a sacking.
The documents list about 60 offence types in which charges were laid against officers between July 1999 and April 2001.
They surfaced a week after Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon announced a review of conduct.
That followed the arrest of two drug squad members in separate incidents two weeks ago: Det-Sgt Malcolm Rosenes, 48, charged with three others in relation to a $3 million ecstasy haul; and recently resigned detective Stephen Paton, 39.
In a different case, police continue investigations into the kidnapping of a former drug squad detective, now a courier, who was transporting about 125kg of pseudoephedrine – used in making amphetamines – to a Melbourne chemical company.
Ombudsman Barry Perry has also begun his own inquiry into drug squad operations, which could have ramifications across the force.
The ESD reports show a range of drug charges were laid on two occasions against sergeants, where charges were later dismissed; and three against senior constables, where a charge was dismissed and a fine and reprimand were imposed.
In the period, eight officers were charged with drink-driving.
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