SA Police Sergeant Russell Nash inquest hears HR coach was engaged to help manage “difficult” relationship with supervisor
A coronial inquest has heard how an HR coach was engaged to help Sergeant Russell Nash manage the "difficult" relationship with his supervisor before the officer's tragic suicide.
A coronial inquest has heard the services of an HR coach were engaged to help a veteran police officer navigate a fraught working relationship with a manager – who has been described as “difficult” and “lacking empathy”.
The hearing into the death of “dedicated” Sergeant Russell Peter Nash — who took his own life on Christmas Eve 2021 after what counsel assisting the coroner Darren Evans described as “excessive and unwarranted display of power” by a senior officer — continued on Tuesday.
Return to Work co-ordinator Natalie Bottroff told the court about Sgt Nash’s mental health, alcohol addiction and management, and his deteriorating working relationship with his manager.
Ms Bottroff said Sgt Nash, 43, had difficulties with his Police Band supervisor, Chief Inspector Cameron Devey, after he was redeployed as Band Master in February 2019 during a WorkCover-led Return to Work scheme.
She told the court the relationship between the pair “was not cordial” and had deteriorated on both sides.
“Russell would talk to me about how he felt it was unfair that he wasn’t given opportunities within the Police Band that others would have been afforded,” Ms Bottroff said.
“He feels he was unfairly discriminated against or bullied by Cameron for not having opportunities.
Ms Bottroff added that the tension was mutual.
“Russell wasn’t reasonable to Cameron either,” she said. “It was a headbutting relationship.”
As a result, SAPOL engaged an HR coach to assist Sgt Nash in managing his supervisor.
“It’s not usual that we would engage an HR coach – and on three occasions I’ve been able to do that – where someone has been struggling to understand how to manage up,” she said.
“It was to give Russell some hope and some skills to be able to have better insight on managing up, in terms of what Cameron’s behaviour type was or personality.”
Ms Bottroff also described her surprise when she learned Chief Inspector Devey had requested a “briefing paper” from Sgt Nash’s doctor before approving his participation in a 12-week mental-health program for first responders transitioning to civilian life.
“I don’t agree that Cameron was supportive of Russell (participating in GEARS) initially,” she said.
“(Chief Inspector Devey) asked for a briefing paper, which I’ve never had anyone, ever, in my life at SAPOL, ask for a briefing paper to attend a policing program that benefits police officers’ mental health. I was quite surprised.
“I think he didn’t understand the benefits of the GEARs program to members that attend it.”
Ms Bottroff said she believed Chief Inspector Devey’s “management style lacked wanting to learn how to better manage a staff member” and that “he had a lack of empathy towards the addiction that Russell was trying to manage”.
“I found he wasn’t interested, from my view, in really understanding what underpinned Russell’s behaviour and the difficulties he faced with addiction,” she said.
The inquest continues.
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Originally published as SA Police Sergeant Russell Nash inquest hears HR coach was engaged to help manage “difficult” relationship with supervisor
