Victoria Police top drug cop boyfriend of Inflation nightclub owner
UPDATE: Police have declined to comment on claims by a nightclub operator that senior officers knew for years about her relationship with the state’s top drug cop.
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UPDATE: Police have declined to comment on claims by a nightclub operator that senior officers knew for years about her relationship with the state’s top drug cop.
The Herald Sun revealed yesterday that Martha Tsamis, who runs the Inflation nightclub, is in a relationship with detective Insp. Phil Harrison of the drug taskforce.
Ms Tsamis said there was no secret to her relationship with Insp. Harrison.
“Every police commissioner since 2010 has been aware of our relationship. Police cleared the relationship in 2010 after the then chief commissioner Simon Overland received similar anonymous complaints,” she said on Facebook
Victoria Police was today approached for comment on Ms Tsamis’ comments.
“We won’t be commenting on individuals,” a spokeswoman said
The Herald Sun was told senior police were surprised to learn that Detective Inspector Phil Harrison was in a relationship with Inflation operator Martha Tsamis.
A senior police source described the situation as “very awkward”.
Ms Tsamis denies that Inflation is a “honey pot” for dealers — as police have claimed — and has sued the state government for defamation over those comments.
The link between Det Insp Harrison and Ms Tsamis has surfaced in the aftermath of a police shooting at Inflation last month, and in the wake of a police crackdown following a series of overdoses in nightclubs on Chapel St earlier this year.
A major investigation is under way into why police opened fire on a man and a woman at a fancy-dress swingers party being held at Inflation, in King St, on July 8.
The case’s lead investigator was recently removed from the inquiry after a complaint from Ms Tsamis.
It is believed one of her grievances was a perception that the officer has a conflict of interest because he does not get along with Det Insp Harrison.
INFLATION NIGHTCLUB POLICE SHOOTING UNDER IBAC INVESTIGATION
Senior police decided to exclude the detective from the inquiry.
But they are understood to have been taken aback to learn Ms Tsamis was in a relationship with Det Insp Harrison.
Contacted on Wednesday, Det Insp Harrison said: “I have nothing to do with it. I have nothing to say.”
There is no suggestion that he has acted improperly in his role.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said: “A complaint has been made to Victoria Police in relation to a perceived conflict of interest issue in connection to the investigation and parties involved. Victoria Police has ensured that this perceived conflict of interest does not impact on the (continuing) investigation.”
“Investigations into the perceived conflict of interest issue will form part of the oversight being conducted by Professional Standards Command and the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission,” the Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
She said the force would not comment on specific members.
The original Inflation investigator was the second officer to have been excluded from involvement in the shooting probe or its oversight.
PROBE INTO POLICE SHOOTING AT NIGHTCLUB PARTY CONTINUES
Assistant Commissioner Brett Guerin, the head of Professional Standards Command, will have no role because the government is being sued by Ms Tsamis over comments he made in 2014, while in charge of the force’s licensing section, that Inflation was a “honey pot” for drug dealers, which Ms Tsamis strenuously denies.
Mr Guerin seeking to restrict its closing time to 1.30am, said there were several witness accounts of GHB being trafficked at its Cloud Nine nights.
There was no suggestion that Inflation or its operators condoned drug use.
However, police alleged its status as an all-night venue attracted drug-using revellers.
Police alleged patrons had said revellers regularly lost consciousness after overdosing on GHB and that children as young as 16 had attended.
Police alleged a 17-year-old had dealt ecstasy inside the venue and many hospital admissions were connected to overdoses at Cloud Nine.
Ms Tsamis has said drug use would not be tolerated in the club and it had employed a harm minimisation officer to prevent it and protect patrons.
The club conceded some who use drugs attend, but paramedics and police were immediately called to deal with any drug-related issues.
Just after 3am on July 8 this year, a couple at a Saints and Sinners swingers’ party were shot after the force’s critical incident response team stormed Inflation in response to reports a man was brandishing a gun.
It emerged the man had been dressed up as Batman comic book villain The Joker and was carrying a toy gun.
Dale Ewins, 35, and Zita Sukys, 37, were wounded.
Ms Tsamis has been strongly critical of police actions on the night and has signalled she intends taking legal action.
