A boozy night out led to a senior cop fleeing the scene of a car crash he caused to avoid a breath test, a watchdog has found.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission this week stopped short of finding that other senior NSW Police officers tried to cover up the May 2023 incident when they didn’t declare it publicly.
But it did find the 46-year-old inspector in a ‘prestigious unit’ referred to as ‘Officer AB’ was ‘deliberately dishonest’ in his answers on an insurance claim form about the car he crashed.
The work-issued vehicle was damaged in Sydney NorthConnex tunnel after the cop spent several hours drinking with other officers in the city.
However, he wasn’t charged with high-range drink driving until six months later.
Local Court suppression orders in place prohibit the disclosure of the identity of Officer AB for 40 years.
He was found guilty of serious misconduct for leaving the scene of the crash to avoid a blood-alcohol reading.
Internal police documents previously released to state parliament revealed the high-ranking officer then lodged an insurance claim saying the crash happened when he ‘fell asleep’ at the wheel.
He was subsequently accused of driving with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.15, an allegation he denies.
The officer was also treated more leniently by his commander and in a police review of his driving, which the watchdog said led to other officers losing confidence in the integrity of the force.
Chief Commissioner Peter Johnson acknowledged the general public had the right to know that police officers were dealt with in the same way as other citizens when alleged criminal incidents occur.
‘But there is a second important audience … other NSW police force officers watch to see if senior officers are dealt with in the same way as junior officers,’ he said.
‘If there is not equitable treatment of all police, it can lead to dissatisfaction in the ranks of the police generally.’
Police did not issue a public statement about the allegations until media reported details of the incident, prompting suggestions its leadership wanted to cover up the events.
But the commission found no evidence the lack of public disclosure involved impropriety, while noting it had hurt the reputation of the force.
It emphasised ‘the equitable and transparent treatment of all police’ in the handling of allegations against officers.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb previously denied any cover-up, saying disclosure had ‘slipped through the cracks’ rather than being avoided deliberately.
Ms Webb denied the officer was ‘protected’ during the six-month delay in charges being laid, saying it was not unusual for there to be a drawn-out investigation.
The officer is due back in court on September 27.
High-range drink-driving carries a maximum jail term of 18 months.