Brett Pitkin: Cop sentenced for illegally searching confidential data
A former police sergeant who illegally accessed confidential information has learned his fate.
Penrith
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“Actions like this cause a loss of confidence in the police” a magistrate told a former cop who twice illegally searched for confidential data.
Brett Anthony Pitkin, 44, of Cambridge Gardens, was sentenced to community service today in Penrith Local Court after pleading guilty to two counts of accessing restricted data on the NSW Police Force’s COPS system in June, 2018.
According to court documents, Pitkin’s uncle by marriage, Gregory Bond, was pulled over on June 19, 2018, and had his car searched for “associating with a known bikie”.
Bond later called his wife and told her he’d “have Brett have a look” at his file.
Pitkin then searched for Bond’s record on June 23 and accessed intelligence records under his name.
He falsely recorded the reason for the search as an “inquiry regarding a vehicle driving erratically on the M4 – vehicle type doesn’t match description”.
Pitkin later told his wife Belinda that he’d “checked that thingo for Greg” and that the police had information on Bond and his “bikie mate”.
Police had no evidence that Pitkin ever told Bond the results of his search, however he was observed attending Bond’s 60th birthday celebrations that night.
Two days later, Pitkin’s wife asked him to look into a phone number that was leaving “dirty messages” at the St Marys Band Club.
Pitkin searched the number and provided his wife with the man’s name and his suburb before advising her to contact police.
Magistrate Janine Lacy said the offences were at the mid-range of seriousness due to Pitkin’s attempts to cover up.
“He accessed personal records of Bond as well as an intelligence report, which was a significant risk of compromising a police investigation,” she said.
“He also entered a false reason for the access, which means he was clearly aware that what he was doing was wrong.”
Magistrate Lacy sentenced Pitkin to a two-year community corrections order and 100 hours of community service.
“This isn’t part of any organised crime, and he’s unlikely to reoffend,” she said.
“He’s remorseful and embarrassed by his conduct.
“However, the court is minded of the importance of general deterrence. This behaviour can’t be condoned in any circumstances, and it is shameful conduct that is denounced by the community and this court.
“Actions like this cause a loss of confidence in the police, so the punishment needs to reflect the seriousness of his behaviour.”