Luke John Deger: Triple-0 operator impersonated a police officer due to Covid depression

A civilian police employee and former Afghanistan veteran made out he was a sworn officer because Covid pressure on his side hustle as a photographer triggered depression, a court has heard.

Luke John Deger faced Wyong Local Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to two counts of impersonating a police officer.

However his solicitor Ryan Finch successfully sought to have the matter dealt with under mental health provisions.

Mr Finch told the court the 34-year-old father-of-two was employed with the NSW Police Force call centre at Tuggerah where he took Triple-0 and Police Assistance Line calls for the past five years.

He said Mr Deger’s wife was a swimming teacher who lost her job during lockdown and his side business as a photographer also experienced a significant downturn.

Civilian police employee Luke Deger at Wyong Local Court, Friday, December 17, 2021 for impersonating a police officer. Picture: Sue Graham

He said Mr Deger served in the Australian Army between 2009 and 2014 and underwent tours in Afghanistan which left him with PTSD and depression.

Mr Finch said two reports from his treating psychologist, tendered in court, stated the financial pressure from lockdown sent Mr Deger into further depression which “made him act out of character”.

The court heard the Department of Public Prosecutions submitted there was no causal link between Mr Deger’s mental health and his offending and a proposed mental health treatment plan was insufficient.

However Mr Finch said the treating psychologist stated there was a “direct link” and the treatment plan was comprehensive and adequate.

An agreed set of facts states Mr Deger was the sole owner of “Still Image Photography”.

On September 11 another photographer posted on Instagram she was double vaccinated and was looking forward to working again but only with other double vaccinated people.

Mr Deger centre talking with his solicitor Ryan Finch (left) and another man (right). Picture: Sue Graham

Later she received a reply from Still Image Photography where Mr Deger said “I’m with the cops for a day job” and that she was leaving herself open to legal action if she discriminated against anyone who was not double vaccinated.

He went on to say if an officer fined her for working with an unvaccinated person it would be an “unlawful fine”.

The next morning she received more messages from Still Image Photography including a picture of what she believed was a police name tag and badge under the name Luke Deger.

“Just so you know I’m not just bum steering you,” the message read.

On September 13 another photographer on the coast posted on Instagram she was unsure about the current restrictions and would come back to her followers as soon as she could.

A few hours later Mr Deger sent her a message via Still Image Photography that “I’m a cop for a day job, its 100% a proxy war set up by the government”.

Mr Deger at Wyong Local Court.

The message went on to say she too was risking being sued for discrimination and that the threat to people who served unvaccinated people was “bullsh.t”.

She was taken back by the messages and took screen shots of some of the messages before Mr Deger started deleting them.

She told him other photographers were not comfortable with his aggressive messaging and to leave her alone.

Mr Deger was arrested when he arrived for his rostered shift on October 7 and taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged.

Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis said she accepted the diagnosis from the psychologist and the two reports, which found there was a link between Mr Deger’s mental health and his offending.

She ordered the charges be dealt with under the mental health provisions, he continue with the treatment plan and that there be no convictions recorded.