Police union to consider complaint against presidential candidate Darren Cornell for his public call for Wade Burns to resign during by-election campaign

The day after Wade Burns was controversially declared president of the state’s police union, the committee met to consider expulsion of another presidential candidate.

The state’s police union will consider whether to expel presidential candidate Darren Cornell over his public calls for winning candidate Wade Burns to resign.

Multiple union members have taken to social media to express concern about the result after Mr Burns, who was demoted following allegations of indecent assault, was on Thursday elected president by fewer than 50 votes.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo said he had also been told that several female members were intending to resign in protest.

Following the declaration of Mr Burns as winner over second-placed Mr Cornell, a Police Association of SA (PASA) committee of management meeting was held on Friday morning.

Minutes circulated after the meeting said “(outgoing) president and committee of management congratulated newly-elected president Wade Burns”.

Chief Inspector Darren Cornell, who lost out to Mr Burns by fewer than 50 votes. Picture: Supplied

PASA president Wade Burns. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The minutes showed the committee discussed “the conduct of nominees for the presidential campaign”, “use of SAPOL email system”, “SAPOL general order media”, “damage to association reputation/brand by actions of others”, “need to ensure these actions are not replicated in the future” and “association needs to act on the inappropriate actions of others”.

The minutes referred to a “formal complaint” that had been made and rule 4.6 of the PASA constitution, which deals with expulsion of members. The matter was deferred to allow the committee time to consider their positions.

No further detail was given but Mr Pangallo said the complaint was in relation to comments made in the media by Mr Cornell, who had publicly called for Mr Burns to end his campaign.

Mr Pangallo said the committee should instead have met to consider the suitability of Mr Burns for the role.

“How can you be expelled for making a statement to the media but not be expelled when serious allegations have been made about sexual assault?” he said.

Last month, Mr Pangallo used parliamentary privilege to reveal Mr 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. He was subsequently reinstated to the rank of inspector.

Mr Burns stood down as chair of the Basketball SA Commission and the Woodcroft College council, but resisted calls to end his presidential campaign.

When contacted by The Advertiser, Mr Cornell said he had not been made aware of the complaint.

Mr Burns and PASA have not responded to repeated requests for comment since the allegations were made public.

Given the general election is less than a year away, the committee was also allowed – without consulting the membership – to fill the vacancy created by Mr Burns’ elevation from deputy president to president of the union.

It appointed Daryl Mundy to fill the deputy president role, and Samanda Brain to backfill his former position of vice president.

Originally published as Police union to consider complaint against presidential candidate Darren Cornell for his public call for Wade Burns to resign during by-election campaign