Row erupts over NSW Criminal Groups Squad’s Christmas party

The commander of the NSW Criminal Groups Squad allegedly dodged requests to pay $125 for his office Christmas party.

Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow. Picture: AAP

The commander of the NSW Criminal Group’s Squad has been accused of “arrogance” and a “lack of respect” towards his officers after allegedly dodging requests to pay his fee for the Squad’s office Christmas party, according to a scathing email sent to more than 100 members of staff.

Tensions over the unpaid $125 amount boiled over on Friday afternoon when a long-time Squad member, Detective Sergeant Neil Walker, fired off an irate email to his commander, Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow, and carbon copied the rest of their unit.

It is the second time in less than two months that internal fissures and criticism involving Superintendent Critchlow have made it into the public domain.

The Christmas function was held on December 6 at the Shelbourne Hotel in Sydney’s CBD, just prior to Superintendent Critchlow’s appointment as commander.

The Squad is one of eight specialist attachments of the NSW State Crime Command, and has earned renown for its successful investigations of organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Sergeant Walker said 16 weeks had passed since the December 6 function and that emails, text messages and personal reminders to hurry up payment had all gone unanswered.

“The $125 you owe is not owed to me. You owe that money to every member of the Criminal Groups Squad Social Club,” Sergeant Walker said in the email, leaked to The Australian, adding that, as commander, he was expected to pay promptly and set an example.

It was noted that Superintendent Critchlow had been out of the country prior to the function, and that he had undertook to pay it on his return before the gathering took place.

“Unfortunately that undertaking has still not been honoured,” the email said.

“I personally find your actions a display of arrogance and a lack of respect for every member of the social club. I also apologise for publicly outing you to the rest of the Squad, as this is not the way I do things. The prior attempts I have made, and the enlisting of one of your Senior Management Team to assist to recover the Social Club money attests to that.”

Sergeant Walker said ordinarily Commander Critchlow would have been required to pay the fee upfront, but this was waived in good faith.

“Unfortunately, you have been the perfect example of why that rule has been enforced in the past and will continue to be in the future with no exception.”

The email closed off with a “final demand” for the outstanding money to be transferred electronically, or further action would be sought.

“If you choose to ignore this request I will be left with no option but to go to a higher authority,” Sergeant Walker said, referring to NSW Police Force Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, the commander of the State Crime Command.

A NSW Police Force spokeswoman said on Sunday that Superintendent Critchlow had since paid the money, with the matter now considered over. The email and its contents, however, would likely be dealt with internally, she said.

In February, Superintendent Critchlow was chastised by some officers for attempting to enforce greater scrutiny and oversight over Strike Force Raptor following a pursuit that nearly went awry involving a high-risk offender.

The officers involved in the pursuit were subjected to an internal review and allegedly berated in front of colleagues due to the conduct of the pursuit. It lead to morale issues within the Squad and a concerted campaign against Superintendent Critchlow.

Criminal Groups Squad officers have since defended Superintendent Critchlow, telling The Australian these initial “teething problems” had been resolved and that relations had returned to normal.