Why Ken ‘Slasher’ McKay clashed with cops as well as crims

During Ken “Slasher” McKay’s 37-year career, he locked up some of the countries most evil and infamous crooks, including Bassam Hamzy, founder of the street gang Brothers for Life; Tony Vincent, a long-time and ruthless top end Sydney crime boss. Here’s how he did it. NEW POLICE TAPE PODCAST

As a serving cop, Ken “Slasher” McKay was uncompromising and frequently outspoken, often antagonising his superiors with his frank comments about crooks.

It got him in trouble with the NSW Police hierarchy on a regular basis and many people believe cost him any chance of ever becoming commissioner.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: Hear Ken McKay on “dumb” bikies, Melbourne’s Apex “street thugs” and Australia’s toughest ethnic gangs.

McKay was a policeman who took risks and got results. It was a style that inspired and endeared him to a generation of young detectives and the more senior detectives who worked for him. As a boss, McKay would lead from the front, going out on raids rather than sitting behind a desk commanding the troops.

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While he had a strong band of supporters at all ranks, his strong personality rubbed some people up the wrong way.

“With Ken McKay you get what you see. He can be opinionated and brash which p---es some people off,” said a former colleague.

“But he wasn’t into playing politics, which probably cost him the chance of going even higher than he did.”

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During his 37-year career McKay locked up some of the countries most evil and infamous crooks, including Bassam Hamzy, founder of the street gang Brothers for Life; Tony Vincent, a long-time and ruthless top end Sydney crime boss; and drug importer Bruce “Snapper” Cornwell.

McKay’s dislike and total disdain for bikies is legendary, but really extends to all criminals he came into contact with.

When asked for Police Tape if there were any crooks he had any sort of grudging respect for, he answered: “No, not really. I can’t think of any.”

Brothers for Life founder Bassam Hamzy was just one of the crims in McKay’s sights. File picture

McKay was also involved in the investigation of the Family Court bombings. File picture

It wasn’t his uncompromising approach to his work that led to the nickname “Slasher” though.

McKay’s moniker came from his cricketing namesake Ken “Slasher’’ Mackay who played a number of tests in the ’50s and ’60s.

McKay joined the police force in 1977 and was stationed firstly at Campsie in uniform and soon after that in plain clothes. Over the next few years he moved around as a detective, working in the tough inner city commands of Newtown and Marrickville before moving to the investigation squads.

Ken “Slasher” McKay is interviewed for Police Tape. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

He was part of the task force which investigated the Family Court bombings in the 1980s, he worked in the now disbanded National Crime Authority, was head of the Gang Squad, the first commander of the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad and finished his career as an assistant commissioner in 2013.

During his lengthy career he also worked in the undercover electronic surveillance branch; specialist areas, including the Water Police and Air Wing; and all facets of State Crime Command, including the drugs squad, property squad and homicide.

He came from a police family, with his father having spent three decades with the Water Police.

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Originally published as Why Ken ‘Slasher’ McKay clashed with cops as well as crims