Previously secret SA Police misconduct files reveal the misdeeds of penalised officers

SA Police disciplinary records, previously secret but now released by the commissioner, reveal 17 employees were disciplined over the past year – see what they did.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, pictured at the Fort Largs Police Academy, can only authorise any force complaint or disciplinary action under state law. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

A police officer was fined $600 after failing to help a cyclist injured by their cop car while a sergeant was sacked over a dodgy insurance claim, the state’s top officer has revealed.

Latest SA Police disciplinary records, which have previously been secret under state law, reveal 17 officers or public security personnel have been penalised over the past year.

File details, which Police Commissioner Grant Stevens approved for publication, show officers of varying rank – the highest a Senior Sergeant – were reprimanded, counselled, fined, suspended or dismissed for inappropriate conduct.

Disciplinary action was for harassment, bullying, dishonesty, sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, snooping in police databases, leaking of confidential information, helping criminals, drink driving, negligence and fraud.

While incidents subject of secret Police Disciplinary Tribunal proceedings or a criminal court case are disclosed, no personal details such as gender, location and dates are revealed.

The register, which the force launched after criticism of its misconduct secrecy, reveals a Senior Constable was fined $600 and reprimanded between July 1 and September 30 last year over a bingle with a bike rider.

“The officer was a passenger in (a) police vehicle, when the driver attempted to stop a cyclist resulting in the police vehicle colliding the bicycle and rider,” a summary report stated.

“The officer was negligent in supervising the driver and neither officer activated BWV (body worn video), provided assistance or exchanged details with the rider or made the required internal notifications of the collision.”

A Brevet Sergeant was fired between January 1 and March 31 this year after lodging a false insurance claim while off duty and failing to properly manage firearms.

A Probationary Constable was kicked out having “committed sexual offences while off duty” and that he was jailed for.

Records show late last year a “1st class” Senior Constable 1st class was fined $800 and reprimanded after they “involved themselves in a court case where they had a relationship with the defendant”.

“The officer improperly accessed (police) systems and other confidential information providing information to the defendant,” the report read.

A third Brevet Sergeant’s conversation with another was “an abuse of authority”. That officer was fined $600 and both recorded and unrecorded reprimands were made against them.

The register shows three officers were caught drink driving while in private vehicles.

A sergeant was fined without a conviction while a senior constable 1st class also fined but with a conviction recorded.

A senior constable 1st class was convicted, fined and banned from driving.

The force states on its website: “The South Australian community has high expectations of South Australia Police… and we have an obligation to perform our duties with honesty and integrity.”