WA: Corruption watchdog eyes Fremantle police district

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2004
WA: Corruption watchdog eyes Fremantle police district

By Holly Nott

PERTH, Aug 6 AAP - Western Australia's corruption watchdog today said it would closely
monitor the Fremantle police district amid ongoing investigations into officer misconduct,
and a management shake-up.

WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan today defended his decision to remove the head
of the South Metropolitan Police District, District Superintendent Andrew Tovey, along
with four other senior police involved in the running of Fremantle Police Station.

Mr O'Callaghan transferred the officers as internal investigators examined the theft
of $15,000 worth of drugs from Fremantle Police Station. Police have already indicated
the theft was probably an inside job.

But the commissioner stressed yesterday's moves were prompted by accountability issues,
not corruption.

"I'm not saying that the problems in Fremantle are widespread, I think there are some
problems down there," Mr O'Callaghan told ABC radio today.

"I can guarantee that we're putting in a new team, a team with energy, a team which
has got a proven track record and they will sort out the problems in the Fremantle area."

Mr O'Callaghan said concerns about management and audit practices in the district were
confirmed by the weekend theft of seized cannabis from a secure lock-up at Fremantle station,
but had surfaced as a result of other incidents.

Six detectives and another officer, all from Fremantle, are still awaiting disciplinary
action after allegedly clashing with United States exchange students after an off-duty
drinking session at a Fremantle night spot in May.

And a sacked Fremantle police officer is facing corruption and burglary charges after
internal affairs thwarted his alleged plan to steal drug money from a residence in northern
Perth. He will next appear in court on August 13.

Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) executive director Mike Silverstone today said
he had written to Mr O'Callaghan asking if the three recent incidents of misconduct involving
Fremantle police indicated systemic issues, and how the police service was dealing with
them.

"While noting that the process of reform of the police service is the commissioner's
responsibility, the Corruption and Crime Commission believes that the situation in Fremantle
requires further attention," Mr Silverstone said.

"The Corruption and Crime Commission will continue to closely monitor the police service's
response to the situation in Fremantle.

"The chief executive officer of each public sector organisation has responsibility
for integrity and misconduct issues in their respective areas - The CCC exists to assist
them."

Mr O'Callaghan today assured the people of Fremantle that the area was being properly
policed, despite the recent controversies.

But he admitted: "One of the impressions that I get ... is that there is a culture
down there that needs looking at.

"There are a lot of people in the Fremantle area that have been there for a long time
and when you get people who are staying in one place for a long time the whole approach
to work can become laissez-faire or lax."

Supt Tovey, who was awarded an Australian Police Medal in 2003 for developing and
enhancing professional and ethical standards, was posted to the Fremantle area nine months
ago.

He has been moved into an administrative role. His replacement is yet to be announced.

AAP hn/tma/sd

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