Policeman who admitted to taking bribes from debt collector quietly resigns

A veteran police officer who admitted to Victoria’s anti-corruption commission that he exploited his position to help a debt collector in return for cash payments has quietly resigned from the force after receiving full pay on suspension.

Former detective sergeant Wayne Dean has not been charged with any offence, despite being the target of an ongoing investigation, known as Operation Bredbo, by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission almost three years ago.

Wayne Dean has resigned from Victoria Police three years after an investigation was launched into his conduct.Credit: Nine

After approaching Victoria Police for an update on the case this week, The Age can now reveal that Dean, who was known to former police colleagues as “Donger”, received full pay while he was under suspension for almost two years until his resignation in January.

The case highlights growing concerns about whether IBAC has sufficient resources to investigate allegations of police misconduct, following requests by former commissioner Robert Redlich, KC, for an expansion of its oversight powers by the state government.

During a six-day public hearing conducted by IBAC in May 2022, Dean admitted to accepting cash from debt collector and convicted criminal Basilios “Bill” Meletsis.

Dean, who worked for Victoria Police for 37 years, conceded he repeatedly abused his authority as a policeman to bring debtors in for questioning and threatened to charge them if they did not pay up.

“I, obviously in retrospect, know it was the wrong thing to do. I let myself down. I let a lot of people down,” he told the public hearing.

When IBAC investigators raided Dean’s home in February 2022, they uncovered $18,000 in a locked safe, the hearing heard. Another $1300 was allegedly found in his desk.

Dean initially told investigators he did not remember where the money came from, but later claimed it was proceeds from the sale of outdoor furniture, including a pergola.

When asked by Redlich if he had lost sight of where the line needed to be drawn, Dean became emotional and replied, “Yes, sir.”

“I could see it and I didn’t stop it,” he said.

Wayne Dean was interviewed by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in public hearings in May 2022.

Ten days before his arrest in February, Dean was captured by surveillance devices meeting with Meletsis near the Victoria Police headquarters in West Melbourne, IBAC heard.

In exchange for $3000, Meletsis allegedly asked Dean to obtain CCTV from a Thomastown storage facility after a unit containing illegally stored tobacco was burgled. Dean told IBAC he had not been aware of the unit’s contents.

“It could bite me in the arse,” Dean allegedly told Meletsis before he visited the business.

The veteran officer was also grilled by IBAC over his long association with underworld figure Mick Gatto.

When Dean started on the force, he would meet Gatto about once a week at a Lygon Street restaurant, later exchanging regular text messages and phone calls.

However, Dean told the IBAC hearing he had been unaware of Gatto’s criminal history.

Catherine Boston, the counsel assisting IBAC, repeatedly questioned the truthfulness of Dean’s responses during the hearing.

“What I’m putting to you is it is completely implausible that you were unaware that this man had a criminal history,” Boston said.

Despite the compelling evidence against Dean and his own admissions of misconduct, no charges have been laid nearly three years after the investigation was launched.

An IBAC spokeswoman would only confirm the investigation of Dean was ongoing, but refused to discuss why charges had not been laid.

“Operation Bredbo is an ongoing investigation into allegations that a Victoria Police officer misused their position to improperly influence people involved in commercial disputes and civil litigation,” the spokeswoman said.

A Victoria Police spokesman confirmed that Dean had been suspended in February 2022.

“That member remained suspended with pay until they resigned in January 2024,” the spokesman said.

Dean did not respond to calls or messages from The Age.

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