‘Unwise’: Scathing corruption report reveals Cleo detective’s fling with journalist

A detective who rescued Cleo Smith shared police secrets with a young journalist he was seeing, a damning corruption report has found.

A detective who helped rescue kidnap victim Cleo Smith shared confidential police information about the case with a young journalist he was dating, a scathing corruption report has found.

But Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine quit the force before the report was published, which means he will not face further action.

In a 39-page report published on Thursday, Western Australia’s Corruption and Crime Commission noted a 22-year-old reporter, referred to as “Ms A”, claimed she developed an intimate relationship with Mr Blaine in Carnarvon.

Cameron Blaine has quit the force. Picture: Colin Murty

Mr Blaine admitted sharing confidential information with her but denied they had an intimate relationship.

The CCC determined allegations about his conduct, as outlined by Ms A, were supported by “a wealth of corroborative material”.

“The relationship was unwise. She is young, in the early stages of a career as a journalist. It is her job to ask questions and seek out information,” the report read.

“(Mr) Blaine had an obligation to keep matters confidential and failed to do so.”

It was also noted the journalist did not seek out some of the information.

“The information disclosed was obviously a potential benefit to a journalist,” the report read.

“Fortunately, for the most part, she recognised the material was sensitive and did not use it.”

The CCC also found Mr Blaine disclosed confidential information to three other journalists and another woman “with whom he formed a liaison for a short time”.

Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine, pictured with then WA Premier Mark McGowan, became a hero after his involvement in Cleo Smith’s rescue. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

The CCC said Mr Blaine’s relationship with Ms A appeared to end in February or March 2022, although contact was maintained between them until June 24 last year.

It was noted Ms A repeatedly tried to end the association and her boss contacted the Police Commissioner about it.

An Assistant Commissioner also spoke with Mr Blaine on June 28 that year.

In addition to sharing confidential information, the CCC further found Mr Blaine misused a police vehicle.

“In each case, his behaviour could constitute reasonable grounds for the termination of his employment,” the report read.

“The commission has formed an opinion of police misconduct.”

There was no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Ms A, the CCC found.

Cleo Smith was rescued after 18 days. Picture: WA Police Force

However, it was also noted that for much of his 32-year career, Mr Blaine was a “capable and respected officer”.

“His rise to the rank of Detective Senior Sergeant and repeated secondments to the homicide squad are testament to this,” the report read.

“Whether PTSD has severely affected his judgment, and is a cause of his extraordinary behaviour, is beyond the scope of this investigation.”

Police Commissioner Col Blanch rejected any suggestion the findings tarnished the work done by the team to find Cleo.

“150 officers did a wonderful job. They worked day and night for 18 days,” he said.

“It’s not a stain on them because they did a wonderful job. If an officer chooses to operate outside of the code of conduct, then we deal with it.”

Asked Mr Blaine would have been fired if he had not resigned, Mr Blanch said he had a “track record … of removing people who fail at their values”.

“There are thousands of great officers doing great work for our community every day,” he said.

“If this makes their job harder, then we’ve got to work even harder with our community to restore that trust.”

Police Minister Paul Papalia said Mr Blaine’s misconduct was “totally unacceptable”.

The moment Mr Blaine and the team rescued Cleo. Picture: WA Police Force

HOW THE CCC PROBE UNFOLDED

Operation Pemaquid began in July 2022 after a journalist approached the CCC with allegations of misconduct.

Private examinations were held with five witnesses.

The matter was referred to the Police Commissioner on March 16 this year for consideration of disciplinary proceedings.

But the day before the report was tabled in state parliament, Mr Blaine resigned, bringing to an end any disciplinary proceedings.

Terence Darrell Kelly was jailed for kidnapping Cleo. Picture: Colin Murty

Mr Blaine became an international hero when footage was released showing him asking Cleo her name as she was carried out of a Carnarvon house in November 2021.

The four-year-old was rescued 18 days after she was taken from her family’s tent at the Quobba Blowholes campsite on October 16, 2021.

Detectives forced their way into a house and found her in a bedroom.

Talking to media the next day, the detective said it was “absolutely fantastic to see her sitting there … it was incredible”.

“I asked her what her name was. One of the guys jumped in front of me and picked her up and I just wanted to be absolutely sure that … it was her,” he said at the time.

“I said, ‘What is your name?’ She didn’t answer … I asked three times and then she looked at me and said, ‘My name is Cleo’.”

He said it was the best moment of his career.

Cleo’s kidnapper Terence Kelly was sentenced in April to 13 years and six months in jail.

Originally published as ‘Unwise’: Scathing corruption report reveals Cleo detective’s fling with journalist