Police officer Alison Adam sentenced for allowing her signature to be forged

Damning chat messages from an ex-senior cop helming a drug investigation in a major state crime squad and colleagues have been revealed in court.

Ex-NSW Police Acting Inspector Alison Catherine Adam has been found guilty of concealing an indictable offence of another person after she allowed a detective to forge her signature when they worked at the Drugs and Firearms Squad in 2013.

The 49-year-old was co-ordinating an investigation when she allowed workmates to sign internal documents that requested permission from other police units to advance their investigations.

Court papers state in an online “live chat” between Adam and Detective Senior Constable Stephen Papandrea on July 22, 2013, Det Sen-Constable Papandrea told Adam:

“I have sent this idiot from Mt Druitt about five emails asking for it, from what I have been told he is hopeless with paper work, I might need to go and bash him for the RA (request for assistance), do we have your permission as the inspector ma’am.’’

Adam replied: Yep. Or you could just forge it … did I say that?”

Papandrea: “copy I heard nothing”.

Investigators reviewed more online conversations including those between Adam and ex-Detective Senior Constable Murray Treuer on the same day.

When Mr Treuer told Adam he had requested assistance for a destruction notice for the “Parra lab’’ and he emailed it to the “sergeant three times”, it was advised to “just forge one”.

In October that year, Mr Treuer told Adam he had forged her signature on documents, signing off with Alison Smith.

When she asked how many times he had forged her signature, Mr Treuer wrote back: “Only 3 I promise.”

“Adam: “What have I signed?”

Mr Treuer: “Virtual, phone affidavit, client costing and an RA to ssb (State Surveillance Branch).”

Adam: “It sh*ts me that you have me wrapped me around your little finger. There is not a chance in hell that I would let anyone else do this. I must be f***ing mad.’’

Mr Truer: “Ha ha. No client costing. Only the RA to the dogs (State Surveillance Branch) and the virtual (virtual surveillance — that costs 200. If I find this superlab u will be crowned queen don’t worry. Can I call?”

Adam: “Sure”.

Alison Adam worked for the Drug and Firearm Squad. Picture: Justin Sanson

Court documents state Adam failed to ask Mr Treuer any more questions about forging her signature and “she did not actively seek out the document or make other inquiries”.

“The offender believed that Murray Treuer had forged her signature on this document, and believed that this information she had might be of material assistance to authorities in securing the apprehension of Murray Treuer or his prosecution for making a false document, and failed without reasonable excuse to bring the information to the attention of a member of the NSW Police Force.’’

On October 4, the State Surveillance Branch granted a job number for the request.

But it wasn’t until six years later that Adam’s unprofessionalism surfaced. In December 2019, the Professional Standards Command Investigations Unit began an investigation into allegations of serious misconduct by members of the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Strike Force Polmont.

At Parramatta Local Court last month, Adam pleaded guilty to concealing a serious indictable offence in relation to Mr Treuer forging her signature.

She was given a two-year conditional release order but escaped a conviction.

Initial charges — two counts of accessory after the fact to an offence – making a false document to influence exercise of public duty – and concealing an indictable offence — were withdrawn and dismissed.

Part of her conditions were to cease drug use and stop or reduce drinking alcohol.

Adam was suspended from her duties in July 2020 when she declined a police interview.

She was medically discharged from the NSW Police Force in September.

Mr Truer and Sen-Constable Papandrea have not been charged.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said: “As the matter is currently subject to an internal investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage.’’

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