Sergeant Peter Venz acquitted of dangerous moped chase but his future with cops is unclear
Queensland Police have declined to comment about the future of a Gold Coast trail bike officer acquitted of dangerous driving during a 12-minute pursuit of a moped.
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Queensland Police have declined to comment about the future of a Gold Coast trail bike officer acquitted of dangerous driving during a 12-minute pursuit of a moped.
But police confirmed an internal disciplinary investigative process into the actions of Sergeant Peter Venz was ongoing.
Sgt Venz was last week acquitted of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after a four-day trial into a moped chase that started in Mermaid Waters about 4pm on June 9, 2020.
Magistrate John McInnes also ordered police pay $21,000 to Sgt Venz for his legal costs.
It was alleged Sgt Venz was on a police trail bike when he pursued a moped on Oceanic Drive.
He had been tasked to the area after a dog squad officer reported the riders of the moped yelled abuse at his home on multiple occasions.
Sgt Venz told the court the officer told him the moped riders had threatened to kill him.
It was alleged Sgt Venz rode dangerously during the pursuit. The riders of the moped refused to stop for him.
Footage played to the court showed the chase going on to a footpath at a construction site near Burleigh National Park, the wrong way down a one-way street, cutting off an Audi on Hedges Ave and through Tallebudgera Tourist Park.
Sgt Venz was stood down by police after being charged.
Queensland Police Union spokesman Andy Williams said after the acquittal: “Nobody should face a criminal charge for simply doing their job and that’s what Sgt Venz was doing.”
The Bulletin asked Queensland Police about Sgt Venz returning to active duty and if any internal disciplinary action would take place.
The Bulletin also asked: “How can officers be confident they won’t face criminal charges for performing their duties?”
A police spokesman replied: “As there are ongoing Queensland Police Service internal disciplinary investigative processes to be completed it would be inappropriate to provide any further comment.”
DAY 2: Police officer Peter Andrew Venz pleads not guilty to dangerous chase accusations
The Bulletin also asked what training officers received in relation to police pursuits.
The spokesman responded: “Gold Coast Police officers were required to take part in compulsory training in relation to the Queensland Police Service Safe Driving Policy which has now been completed statewide.
“The Gold Coast Police District is planning to complete further refresher training around this policy.”
March 29: A police officer accused of driving dangerously while pursuing a moped through the southern Gold Coast has been acquitted.
Motor bikie officer Sergeant Peter Andrew Venz maintained his innocence, claiming he was in control of the trail bike during the 12-minute pursuit.
He faced a trial in the Southport Magistrates Court for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. Sgt Venz pleaded not guilty in December last year.
Magistrate John McInnes found Sgt Venz not guilty after a four-day trial.
Magistrate McInnes said he had reviewed body-worn camera footage of the pursuit a number of times.
“It does seem to me there had been some incidents which may have impressed some risks a little above that is typical, but I am left in a state of doubt whether any of the particulars of it relate to dangerous driving,” he said.
It was alleged Sgt Venz was on a police trail bike when he pursued a moped on Oceanic Drive, Mermaid Waters about 4pm on June 9, 2020.
He had been tasked to the area after a dog squad officer reported the riders of the moped yelling abuse at his home on multiple occasions.
Sgt Venz said the officer told him the moped riders had threatened to kill him.
It was alleged Sgt Venz rode dangerously during the pursuit. The riders of the moped refused to stop for him.
Footage played to the court showed the chase going on to a footpath at a construction site near Burleigh National Park, the wrong way down a one-way street, cutting off an Audi on Hedges Ave and through Tallebudgera Tourist Park.
The entire chase, which lasted about 12 minutes, ended near Tallebudgera Tourist Park and was captured on body-worn camera by Venz.
The court was told prior to the footage and chase, the moped rider had driven into Sgt Venz’s front wheel and the passenger grabbed Venz’s handlebars.
Sgt Venz said he was able to shake his grip by braking quickly.
The court was told Sgt Venz, who has been riding trail bikes since he was a child, had been assessed by police as having a high-to-exception skill level on off-road bikes.
During the trial, Sgt Venz said at no stage did he feel like he lost control or was close to losing control of his bike.
He said he was constantly assessing risks in his area and what other traffic was doing.
Defence barrister Justin Greggery told the court Sgt Venz’s skill level meant he could safely perform manoeuvres others could not.
“He does not create a risk of collision or danger as it might for someone not so skilled,” he said.
Mr Greggery also pointed out the only time Sgt Venz needed to take evasive action was when the moped drove at him.
He also said other road users were not forced into evasive action.
“His conduct did not alter the expected course of traffic around him … he altered his course around traffic,” Mr Greggery said.
Throughout the trial, Sgt Venz has been supported by his wife who has sat silently in the back of court.
Sgt Venz was stood down from the police service after he was charged with the offence.
“He was otherwise a police officer who enjoyed an excellent reputation,” Mr Greggery said.
He told the court Sgt Venz had also received a number of awards for exceptional service.
Magistrate McInnes awarded Sgt Venz $21,000 in costs to help pay his legal fees.
Outside of court, Queensland Police Union spokesman Andy Williams, who spoke on Sgt Venz’s behalf, said the court had agreed with what Sgt Venz had said all along.
“Nobody should face a criminal charge for simply doing their job and that’s what Sgt Venz was doing.
Asked whether the charges should have been dropped, Mr Williams said: “I think $21,000 worth of costs says it all really.”
He said he looked forward to Sgt Venz returning to active duty.
March 28: A police pursuit of a moped started when the riders threatened to kill an officer, a court has been told.
However, Sergeant Peter Venz said his failure to report the death threat was an “oversight” and because he was “time poor”.
Venz pleaded not guilty in December last year to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
He gave evidence about the 2020 pursuit when the trial resumed in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
It is alleged Venz was on a police trail bike when he chased two men on a moped on Oceanic Drive, Mermaid Waters about 4pm on June 9, 2020.
Venz allegedly rode dangerously during the pursuit of the moped, which refused to stop for him.
Footage played to the court shows the chase going on to a footpath at a construction site near Burleigh National Park, the wrong way down a one-way street, cutting off an Audi on Hedges Ave and through Tallebudgera Tourist Park.
The entire chase, which took about 12 minutes, ended near Tallebudgera Tourist Park and was captured on body-worn camera by Venz.
Venz told the court on Monday that he had been tasked to patrol the area near Pizzey Park after dog squad officer Senior Constable Nicholas Donald reported repeated harassment at his home from two men on a red moped.
Sgt Venz said he went to the area about 3.30pm and spoke to Sen Const Donald.
“I recall him giving me a description of the moped, a description of two riders and also that they had said something like ‘you effing dog we will kill you’,” Sgt Venz said.
He told the court Sen Const Donald seemed “really rattled”.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Christopher O’Neill asked why his report only contained information about verbal abuse of Sen Const Donald and nothing about a threat to kill.
Venz replied: “It was an oversight.”
Venz was also asked why he did not include the threat to kill when he updated the report days later.
He told the court that at the time he was predominantly working state border checkpoint shifts due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I was very time poor,” he said.
“I was only able to leave that checkpoint for about five minutes.”
Venz also told the court that prior to the body-worn camera the moped had driven straight at his bike, collided with his front wheel and the passenger had grabbed his handlebars.
“I basically just wanted to sit back and follow and try and ID the vehicle … there is two of them (riders) and one of me,” he said.
“I don’t come to work to try and get hurt.”
Body-worn camera of the incident was played to Venz.
He said the video was deceptive as it was placed on his chest and he could see more from his vantage point.
He said it also did not show that he was constantly moving his head and eyes looking for potential hazards.
“It’s important to realise that when you are watching the video, things seemed to pop out,” he said.
“For me as the rider of the bike, I had already assessed safe path of travel.”
Venz said the body-worn camera also had a fish eyes lens which made items appear closer.
Venz also told the court he had begun riding trail bikes as a child on his family farm and competed in enduro events.
He said he set up the trail bike division on the Gold Coast and the trail bikes that were used on the rail system during the Commonwealth Games.
The trial continues.
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