NEWS: Herald Sun - October 1st 2003 - Drug cop nabbed before police raid

Drug cop nabbed before police raid
October 1, 2003

AN experienced detective has been savaged by a police dog while allegedly trying to burgle a home before his colleagues raided it.

The officer, who was a member of a squad trying to break a major ecstasy ring, has been suspended from duty.

The officer, a senior detective from the major drug investigation division, was found near the property on Saturday night after local police and a dog unit responded to a call.

He was savaged by a police dog after allegedly assaulting the dog's handler. The 33-year-old was arrested and is in hospital with severe facial injuries.

Officers from the ethical standards department, the force's internal affairs unit, hope to interview the detective soon.

No charges have yet been laid.

The detective's alleged actions have devastated the major drug investigation division, established in June last year after allegations of major corruption within the ranks of the former drug squad.

The division has so far run a clean slate, with a revamped list of detectives and new work procedures.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Terry Purton (crime) said he believed no other police officers were involved in Saturday night's incident.

"They feel terribly devastated and disappointed as a result of what's happened," he said.

ESD boss Assistant Commissioner Noel Perry said the detective, who has 14 years' experience, was off duty when arrested.

"At the time he was called to stop he resisted and refused to co-operate with the dog handler," he said. "At some stage during the apprehension he identified himself as a police member."

After the detective's arrest, his colleagues seized 200,000 ecstasy tablets, 2kg of a drug called ice, 5000 LSD tablets, chemicals, pill presses and $220,000 at the East Oakleigh home.

Mr Purton said it was alleged the $8.5 million ring had interstate and international links.

"The previous largest seizure of ecstasy tablets in Victoria was 50,000. This is quadruple that amount, and 200,000 will have a severe impact on the ecstasy market in Victoria," he said.

Five people were arrested over the haul. Three have been remanded in custody.

While Victoria Police has cleaned the drug squad's image with the formation of the new squad, Mr Perry said there were still possibilities for corruption in high risk areas of policing, particularly where drugs were involved.

"There has been massive input to reform the previous drug squad back in 2002," he said.

"We have put in control mechanisms and strategies to ensure the opportunity for corruption is absolutely minimised."

A special taskforce investigating actions of former drug squad members, codenamed Ceja, has led to seven officers being charged.

"The Ceja operation is still ongoing," Mr Perry said. "I'm unable to say when it will be completed but it does show the Victoria Police force is determined to rid itself of corruption."

With recent charges against former drug squad members threatening the integrity of prosecution cases, Mr Perry said the detective's arrest would have no bearing on any case.

"Allegations are yet to be put to this member, but I'm led to believe any involvement of his in this operation will not jeopardise any current cases before the courts or any cases we propose to put before the courts," Mr Perry said.

Herald Sun

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nickthecheese said:

ouch, talk about crooked cops 8(

>After the detective's arrest, his colleagues seized 5000 LSD tablets
NOOOOOOOOOO

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aunty establishment said:

Is 2 kgs really a lot? I would have thought it was a relatively small amount, 20,000 points maybe only sorting Melbourne for a weekend... (sorry for the speculation, I am new to your fair city).

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