A senior NSW police officer who allegedly drunkenly crashed his car in a Sydney tunnel and fled to avoid being breath tested has been found to have engaged in “serious misconduct,” by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
The senior police officer, known only as AB, crashed an unmarked police car on the NorthConnex ramp in May 2023 while allegedly drunk.
He was charged with driving under the influence and driving with a high-range PCA between November 8 and 11, 2023.
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A media release was not issued by the NSW Police following his charges, however, they were later made public by 9News court reporter Tiffiny Genders.
There were also allegations that the officer lied on his insurance form following the crash.
Today, the LECC found that the senior officer had purposely engaged in misconduct for “deliberately leaving the scene of a car crash he caused” to “avoid being breath tested”.
A second finding of misconduct was made against officer AB for “being deliberately dishonest in his answers on the insurance claim form for the car he crashed”.
“Neither was a split-decision,” the report read.
“At the time, he held a prestigious position in the NSW Police Force…these were deliberate acts of impropriety,” the report said.
The Commission also found that Officer AB was treated “more leniently” by his Commander, in the police review of his driving, and also in the decision to not issue a media release when he was charged.
“The favourable treatment led to other police officers losing confidence in the integrity of the NSW Police Force,” the report said.
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The Commission found no evidence of interference in the police investigation of the crash.
Chief Commissioner Peter Johnson SC said the public and other police have a right to know if the senior officer was dealt with fairly.
“The general public wants to know if a police officer is dealt with in the same way as the ordinary citizen. But there is a second important audience,” Johnson said.
“Other NSW Police Force officers watch to see if senior officers are dealt with in the same way as junior officers.
“If there is not equitable treatment of all police, it can lead to dissatisfaction in the ranks of the police generally.”
The drink driving charges against Officer AB are yet to be finalised.
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