Review cop training now!

From the Herald Sun:

Justice group CopWatch calls for review of police training
Sarah Wotherspoon
December 12, 2008

A COMMUNITY justice organisation has called for a review of police training after officers shot dead a 15-year-old boy last night.

CopWatch – an international organisation that ‘gathers information about injustices that happen at the hands of the police’ – said the shooting should also not be used to advance the argument for equipping police with Tasers.

CopWatch spokeswoman Liz Jones said police were now trained to shoot to kill and called for a review of training procedures.

“We think this is a complete exaggeration and disproportionate for three out of four officers to shoot to kill a 15-year-old boy,” she said.

“We don’t understand where a situation can have arisen where police could not have stopped him.

“Why are they trained to shoot to kill when they could have shot him in the limbs.”

Ms Jones said her sympathies were with the boy’s family and said an independent investigation into the incident was needed.

And Ms Jones said the shooting should not be used to push advance the argument to arm police with Tasers, which she said could be misused.

Cops shoot teen dead in Northcote

From The Age:

Teen shot dead by police
Mex Cooper, Andrea Petrie, Reko Rennie
December 12, 2008

A senior policeman has defended the actions of fellow officers who shot dead a teenage boy in Melbourne’s north last night, claiming the youth said “I’m going to kill you” before he was gunned down.

At a press conference this morning, Assistant Commissioner Tim Cartwright said the officers had been confronted by the knife-wielding 15-year-old at the All Nations Park in Northcote.

Cops throw teen in cell with violent man: “Have fun!”

From the Northern Territory News:

Boy put in cell to be bashed
REBEKAH CAVANAGH
December 12th, 2008

POLICE used force to arrest a drunk 15-year-old boy, before putting him in a cell with a violent Aboriginal man and saying “have fun”.

The Northern Territory News can reveal that police then turned a blind eye while the teen was punched up to five times by the man.

Want to bash some drunks? Victoria Police: The Place To Be

From the Herald Sun:

Outrage at police ‘Melbourne West’ recruitment video
Paul Anderson
December 12, 2008 12:00am

A VICTORIA Police video is using images of violent clashes with drunks and a confrontation with soccer hooligans to recruit officers to work in a city station.

Corrupt cops help out their drunk colleagues

From The Australian:

Police Integrity Commission recommends charges against NSW officers
Natalie O’Brien
December 09, 2008

THE NSW police corruption watchdog has recommended charging three officers after they allegedly faked breathalyser tests to cover up for workmates and their relatives caught drink-driving.

The Police Integrity Commission has recommended criminal charges of intending to pervert the course of justice be laid against the officers from the country NSW stations of Moree and Orange.

The release of the PIC report yesterday into the separate incidents that took place last year, reveals that in both cases on-duty officers allegedly blew into a breathalyser machine instead of the alleged culprits, resulting in zero readings.

It has been recommended that Senior Constable Phillip Smith and Constable James Boaden from Moree face charges as well as Senior Constable Mark Christie from Orange.

In its report to parliament on operations Pegasus and Luno, the PIC said it decided to investigate the cases of alleged misconduct in two separate country area local commands because they involved similar situations and the same misconduct issues.

The PIC determined to hold public hearings to “highlight the type of misconduct which in many circumstances may go undetected”.

Officers who test positive for alcohol are offered rehabilitation counselling while those who test positive to drugs are liable for dismissal.

Cops leak files to alleged crims

From The Age:

Secret police files leaked to alleged crime bosses
Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker
December 2, 2008

TOP-SECRET Victoria Police files have been leaked to alleged crime bosses and killers, compromising federal and state drug trafficking investigations.

In one of the most serious security breaches in Australian law enforcement, the leaked information came from the state surveillance squad, which conducts physical and technical surveillance on crime targets.

Alleged drug baron John Higgs, a founder of the Black Uhlans outlaw motorcycle gang, received information from the leaked files, as did other members of his syndicate.

At least two other Melbourne men — one an alleged murderer and the other a suspected drug trafficker — also received their confidential surveillance records. One fled overseas after obtaining copies of the files.

State bungling may let corrupt cops off the hook

From the Herald Sun:

Bungle may let bent cops escape
Keith Moor
November 24, 2008

EXCLUSIVE: A STING operation against police corruption in the sex industry may have been brought unstuck by government bungling.

Officers at a metropolitan police station were being investigated for allegedly owning an unlicensed brothel and demanding sex and cash from street prostitutes.

But investigators fear a blunder by a government agency may have tipped them off.

Corrupt cops allegedly running brothel, dealing drugs and bashing sex workers

From the Canberra Times:

Corrupt Victorian cops ‘linked to illegal sex workers’
BY MICHAEL RUFFLES
25/11/2008

Unhealthy relationships between a small number of Victorian police and illegal sex workers are leading to entrenched corruption, with kickbacks and sexual favours common in inner Melbourne.

Anti-corruption officers have been investigating police who allegedly own and manage an unlicensed brothel, are associated with drug deals and have assaulted sex workers.

Senior Constable stole $10,000

From the Herald Sun:

Sen-Con Christopher Sean Vincent guilty of stealing $10,000
Shelley Hadfield
November 21, 2008

A POLICEMAN who stole more than $10,000 from a bogged car will spend his first night behind bars tonight.

Sen-Con Christopher Sean Vincent, 38, was today sentenced to 12 months’ jail, eight months of which was suspended. It means he will have to spend four months in jail.

A County Court jury earlier this month found Vincent guilty of one count of theft.

Teenage girl manhandled by security + police at Oaks Day races

From the Herald Sun:

Girl defends Oaks Day melee after aiding elderly
Anthony Dowsley and Mary Bolling
November 08, 2008

A FLEMINGTON race fan caught in the Oaks Day train fiasco claims she was manhandled by security staff and restrained by police when she stood up for elderly patrons.

Charmaine, 17, said she was accosted by security guards as agitated racegoers became dehydrated and sunburnt when they were stranded after Thursday’s races.

She said a fracas involving her boyfriend, security guards and police started when she complained after security people allegedly let attractive girls on to the crowded platform to use the toilets while others were told to wait.