Image: NSW police car via Getty Imges @Julia Gomina
A senior New South Wales police officer has received a two-year community correction order and a $1500 fine after crashing an unmarked police car while heavily intoxicated. The punishment has been criticised as a slap on the wrist, with the cop facing a mild consequence for his actions.
Officer AB, whose identity is protected by a 40-year court suppression order, was found guilty of mid-range drink driving last year. He was caught on CCTV drinking with his colleagues and dancing at a bar on May 13, 2023, before walking through Sydney’s CBD intoxicated.
At 1:43 AM, NorthConnex tunnel cameras recorded the senior officer’s unmarked police vehicle veering to the right. Minutes later, the car crashed into a concrete barrier, as detailed in the Downing Centre Court during his sentencing on Tuesday, as reported by ABC News.
A magistrate previously found the evidence was not able to support a more serious high-range offence that had been pursued by prosecutors.
The court was informed that the officer had been receiving treatment for mental health issues, which were cited as a factor in the incident.
The defence requested a release order with supervision, ongoing mental health care, and a three-month driver’s license disqualification due to his caregiving responsibilities.
Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Finds Officer AB Guilty of Misconduct
Last year, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) found Officer AB guilty of two serious misconduct charges. The first was for deliberately leaving the scene of a car crash he caused in Sydney’s NorthConnex tunnel to avoid a breath test. The second finding involved the officer being dishonest in his responses on the insurance claim form for the crashed vehicle, the report stated.
The Commission also found that Officer AB was treated more leniently in the way in which he was managed by his Commander and in the police review of his driving.
Crown prosecutor Eric Balodis stated that there was no definitive evidence of the officer’s level of intoxication at the time of the crash, as he left the scene and was not breathalysed.
Investigators suggested that the officer consumed more than 20 standard drinks over a nine-hour period, with one expert estimating his blood alcohol concentration at 0.137 when the crash occurred.
Chief Commissioner Peter Johnson SC stated that there were two audiences observing how allegations of criminal conduct by a police officer are dealt with.
“The general public wants to know if a police officer is dealt with in the same way as the ordinary citizen. 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.
“If there is not equitable treatment of all police, it can lead to dissatisfaction in the ranks of the police generally,” he said at the time.
Officer AB Avoids Jail Time
Officer AB has avoided jail time despite consuming 20 drinks and displaying disorderly behaviour in public.
The officer’s punishment has sparked public backlash, with many calling for stronger penalties that match the severity of his actions.
One Instagram user asked, “Is this fine and sentence comparable to what a civilian would receive?” Another commented, “Slap on the wrist with cooked spaghetti & $20 to charity”, while a third wrote, “Justice served, not charged and still on paid leave :).”
The 47-year-old was handed a six-month driving suspension, followed by a 12-month interlock device requirement for his vehicle.
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