NSW Police Superintendent Mick Dempsey admits to Gold Coast DUI, may face further charges
A New South Wales police superintendent attached to the Tweed/Byron district has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to drink driving on the M1 last week. His Queensland counterparts say he may face further charges.
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A New South Wales Police superintendent attached to the Tweed/Byron district has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to drink driving on the M1 last week on the southern Gold Coast, but his Queensland counterparts say the senior officer may not be out of the woods just yet.
Banora Point man Michael Patrick Dempsey, 54, more commonly known to the community as NSW Police Superintendent Mick Dempsey, appeared in Coolangatta Magistrates Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving over the general alcohol limit.
He was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month. No conviction was recorded.
The offence occurred on the M1 at Palm Beach about noon last Thursday, April 24.
In a statement issued later that evening in response to a media report, Queensland Police Service (QPS) said the off-duty superintendent was travelling southbound in an LDV utility when it allegedly struck other vehicles.
Superintendent Dempsey was apprehended at Stewart Rd, Currumbin, where he was breath-tested, returning a positive reading.
NSW Police say his “employment status... [is] currently under review”.
Speaking about the incident on Monday, Gold Coast Police Superintendent Brett Jackson said police were alerted to Superintendent Dempsey “driving erratically” by members of the public.
Queensland Police have positively identified one of the vehicles collided with by the defendant – the motorist sustained minor injuries – but believe a second vehicle was also struck.
Investigations to locate that second vehicle are continuing.
Superintendent Jackson said the investigation may result in further charges for Superintendent Dempsey, whose driving was described as “dangerous” in the initial statement released by QPS.
“I’d suggest there may be other charges to follow,” Superintendent Jackson said, citing driving without due care and attention as one of the possibilities.
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