Police union presidential candidate Darren Cornell calls on opponent Wade Burns to end his ‘untenable’ campaign after assault allegations

An opponent of embattled police union presidential candidate Wade Burns has called on him to end his “untenable” campaign.

Police union presidential candidate Darren Cornell has called on embattled opponent Wade Burns to end his campaign in the wake of bombshell indecent assault allegations, declaring “his position has become untenable”.

In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Cornell said Mr Burns – currently deputy president of the union – has this week resigned as the chair of the Basketball SA Commission and Woodcroft College board.

He said he must now take the same action in relation to his candidacy.

“If he is not a fit and proper person for a school board and Basketball SA, how can he represent South Australia Police officers?” he said.

Chief Inspector Darren Cornell. Picture: Supplied

Inspector Wade Burns. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“His intended position to lead the Police Association of South Australia (PASA), as the representative who is seeking to increase female participation in the workforce and campaigner for the prevention of sexual assault against women.

“His position has become untenable. In this campaign he has not explained his actions, he has not shown remorse toward the victim.”

Mr Cornell said the indecent assault allegations outlined by MLC Frank Pangallo in parliament – and later confirmed by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens as having been criminally investigated without leading to charges – meant he was not fit to lead the union.

“Having suffered the biggest demotion in memory, how can he be trusted to have any sort of relationship with the Association membership?” he said.

“In the interests of the Police Association’s charter to represent its members, it is essential he resigns.”

Mr Cornell, a chief inspector, and Mr Burns are among four candidates contesting a by-election to decide who will replace outgoing PASA president Mark Carroll.

Mr Carroll has made no public comment about the allegations, with voting due to close next Thursday.

Endorsements from SA sport Hall of Famer Jenny Williams OAM, Basketball SA chief executive Tim Brenton and Woodcroft College principal Shannon Warren were all this week removed from Mr Burns’ campaign website.

Last week, Mr Pangallo said Mr Burns – the son of former police commissioner Gary Burns – was demoted from chief inspector to senior sergeant in 2017 after it was claimed he indecently assaulted a then-civilian female SA Police employee at a social function.

The allegations had not previously been able to be made public due to the state’s police secrecy provisions.

Mr Burns told union members in a subsequent memo his campaign would continue and that “what was said – under parliamentary privilege – was factually incorrect”.

He acknowledged he had challenged SA Police in the Police Review Tribunal – “and won”, and said that his misconduct “was not – nor was it ever – a criminal matter”.

However, Mr Stevens subsequently corrected the record in a statement that said SA Police’s Internal Investigation Section did commence a criminal investigation after allegations were received.

But the matter was not referred for prosecution on the wishes of the alleged victim, and Mr Burns may not have been aware that a criminal investigation was commenced. He was later reinstated to the rank of inspector.

Originally published as Police union presidential candidate Darren Cornell calls on opponent Wade Burns to end his ‘untenable’ campaign after assault allegations