SA Police officer and Yorke Peninsula councillor Adam Meyer banned from council for one month without pay

A serving SA Police officer has been hit with a month-long ban from his other job as a councillor over emails he sent. But he, and others, say he was simply doing his job.

A South Australian police officer will be stood down from his role as an elected member on a regional council, after being found to have committed repeated serious misbehaviour.

Cr Adam Meyer will be suspended for one month without pay from the Yorke Peninsula Council, following a year-long investigation by the Behavioural Standards Panel.

The ban, effective from Friday, comes after Mayor Darren Braund referred him to the independent panel in a bid to protect the health and safety of a senior staff member.

Six allegations of serious misbehaviour were made regarding emails sent to the staffer and Cr Meyer’s failure to comply with a directions notice under the Local Government Act.

Yorke Peninsula Council Mayor Darren Braund. Picture: Supplied

Cr Adam Meyer. Picture: yorke.sa.gov.au

Cr Meyer denied any wrongdoing, however the panel determined he breached the Act on two occasions regarding emails sent to the staffer between July 2023 and February 2024.

It found the emails – some sent to all councillors – were “inappropriate, accusatory and/or antagonistic” and “called into the question the integrity and performance of the staffer”.

The report stated Cr Meyer had requested documents on “a specific council matter” and later, submitted questions on notice with the staffer to be put on council agendas “attempting to publicly air grievances”.

Cr Meyer continued to send emails after he had been alerted by Mr Braund to the negative impact and heightened risk to the staffer’s psychological health, the report found.

In its findings, the panel required Cr Meyer to reimburse the council $300 for costs incurred and he be removed from an unnamed council working party.

Cr Meyer vehemently denied any wrongdoing, or that he had any intention to cause adverse effects to the staffer’s health, adding he only sought information to perform his role as a councillor.

“Our client has made no accusations, antagonism or intimidation in any of the questions,” his lawyer, Kevin Raison, wrote in the report.

“There is no evidence about how (redacted) interpreted these questions or how they made them feel.”

Cr Meyer added the financial penalties of the suspension and reimbursement totalled $1759.92 and was “manifestly excessive” and more than some penalties for criminal offences.

He also raised concerns his employer may withdraw his secondary employment approval to remain on the council as a result of the findings, which would further impact him financially.

In its findings, the panel stated the orders were reasonable and proportionate due to a number of reasons, including his serious misbehaviour not being a one-off incident.

“Cr Meyer continued his actions after being made aware of the negative impact on, and the heightened risk to, the senior council officer’s psychological health,” the findings stated.

“While the panel did not receive evidence of any psychological injury to the senior council officer for consideration, the panel is satisfied from the information provided by Mayor Braund that the senior council officer’s psychological health was being impacted by his behaviour.”

Yorke Peninsula Ratepayers Association chairman Ian Markos called on the local government minister to investigate the panel’s findings and how it determined its decision.

“This bloke was elected to represent the people on the Yorke Pensinula and he was doing his job by asking questions and they refused to answer them,” Mr Markos said.

Cr Meyer declined to comment when contacted by The Advertiser.

Originally published as SA Police officer and Yorke Peninsula councillor Adam Meyer banned from council for one month without pay