High-ranking SA Police officer faces investigation over historical firearm mishap claims

A high-ranking officer will face an inquiry over historial claims they accidentally fired a gun twice, one hitting a house.

SA Police has launched an internal investigation into claims a high-ranking police officer accidentally discharged their gun twice in the early 1990s. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

A high-ranking South Australian police officer is under investigation over historical claims they accidentally discharged their firearm during routine police duties on two separate occasions, with concerns the incidents may not have been properly disclosed, the Sunday Mail can reveal.

SA Police has launched an internal investigation into claims the officer’s gun was accidentally fired while attending properties to carry out police work in the northern suburbs in the early 1990s.

It is claimed that in the first incident, a bullet was fired into a house when an occupant was home.

No one was injured.

The second incident purportedly occurred several months later, and again no one was injured.

It has been claimed the alleged accidental shooting incidents were not properly disclosed for internal review in accord-ance with SA Police rules.

Under SA Police regulations, any time a firearm or taser is taken out of its holster, a report must be completed and submitted for analysis and review by SA Police’s ethical and professional standards branch.

Depending on the circumstances, this can lead to criminal or formal disciplinary proceedings, management resolution, or no further action may be taken.

The Sunday Mail presented these historical claims to SA Police, identifying the officer allegedly involved, and posed a series of questions regarding the incidents.

The questions sought clarification on whether the incidents were reported appropriately, and if so, whether any disciplinary action or additional training was mandated.

Additionally, if the matter was not reported, the queries aimed to understand the reasons behind the lack of reporting.

SA Police provided the following statement in response.

“SAPOL must treat information that constitutes a complaint about a breach of conduct as a complaint in accordance with the Police Complaints and Discipline Act 2016,” it read.

“These investigations are overseen by the independent Office of Public Integrity (OPI) and the confidentiality provisions of the Act automatically apply.

“Your inquiry constitutes a complaint about a breach of conduct under the Act and falls within the confidentiality provisions. Therefore, no further comment can be made at this time.”

The Police Complaints and Discipline Act prohibits the publication of any information “tending to suggest that a particular person is, has been, may be, or may have been, the subject of a complaint, report, assessment or investigation under this Act”.

Only the Police Commissioner, the OPI, the Independent Commission Against Corruption or a court can authorise the publication of such information.

This means the officer’s name cannot be publicly disclosed at this time.

The Act has come under scrutiny in recent years over concerns about its secrecy clauses.

State parliament’s Crime and Public Integrity Policy Committee, after conducting an inquiry into the operation of the Act, recommended in late 2023 that numerous changes to the legislation be made, including easing public information restrictions and banning media inquiries from being treated as complaints.

The state government is yet to respond to the recommendations.

Originally published as High-ranking SA Police officer faces investigation over historical firearm mishap claims