SA Police reveals disciplinary proceedings against eight officers

A number of South Australian cops have found themselves in trouble, newly released disciplinary record reveal. See what they did.

Two police officers have been fined and reprimanded after they separately snooped into files relating to family members, while another officer has been disciplined after they took too long to progress a criminal investigation.

A sergeant has also been sanctioned for a series of failures, including authorising the detention of a person without lawful authority.

SA Police has this week released the disciplinary outcomes for the final quarter of 2024/25, revealing that internal proceedings were finalised against seven police officers and one police security officer during the period.

This brings the total number of SAPOL employees disciplined throughout the entire financial year to 16.

The latest data, which covered the period between April 1 and June 30 this year, showed a senior constable was fined $1000 and had a reprimand recorded against them for twice improperly accessing SAPOL systems and other confidential information regarding an unrelated investigation concerning their family.

In a separate matter, another senior constable was fined $700, received a recorded reprimand and was made to undertake education and training after they improperly accessed SAPOL systems and view records of their family members “on numerous occasions”.

Meanwhile, a sergeant was slapped with a $500 fine and received a recorded reprimand after they “failed to progress a criminal investigation assigned to them in a timely manner”. The officer also failed to manage exhibits in line with SAPOL’s rules.

The quarterly SA Police disciplinary outcomes have been released.

Another sergeant, who was in charge of a cell complex, was fined $500, reprimanded and received education and training after they were “negligent in their responsibility for safe and secure management of a detainee in their custody”.

The officer also did not report a minor self-harm incident, as they were required to do, and they were “untruthful” when questioned about the matter.

The sergeant also “authorised detention of a detainee without lawful authority”.

In another matter, a Police Security Officer was fined $500 and reprimanded after they “failed to carry out their allocated duties and lied to their manager when questioned about the matter”.

And two officers – a senior constable and a senior constable first class – were both fined and reprimanded after they were caught drink driving in their private vehicles while off duty.

The only officer to be sacked during the reporting period was a brevet sergeant who was nabbed in possession of prescribed medication that was not prescribed to them, and they were also caught with a small amount of a controlled substance and implement to consume it. The officer was also found to be driving while their license was disqualified.

An SA Police spokesperson said SAPOL, which comprises more than 6000 sworn and unsworn employees, had “rigorous processes” in place to deal with breaches of its internal policies.

“In any workplace a very small percentage of individuals may breach policy or fail to carry out their duties as required,” they said.

“Where breaches are detected, individuals are held accountable in order to maintain the high standards that we place on ourselves, and the community expects of its police officers.”

OTHER DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN BY SAPOL THROUGHOUT 2023/24

A CONSTABLE was issued an $850 fine and received a recorded reprimand for being in an “inappropriate relationship” with a reporting person while investigating an offence, creating a conflict of interest. The officer also did not disclose the relationship.

IN TWO separate cases, a brevet sergeant and a senior constable 1st class were both fined $800 each, given recorded reprimands, received counselling and were transferred after sending inappropriate social media messages to other employees.

A CONSTABLE was fined $3250, transferred, and received a recorded reprimand after they removed an item from a home and disposed of it. The item was later recovered and returned to the owner. When questioned about this incident, the officer was dishonest in their response.

A SENIOR constable was fined $1000, was given a recorded reprimand and received training and education after the officer improperly accessed SAPOL systems and provided other assistance when a male “with a criminal reputation” sought assistance regarding policing matters. The officer also failed to report the criminal association until directed by local management.

Originally published as SA Police reveals disciplinary proceedings against eight officers