|
|
|
| NEWS > 19 October 2006 |
Other related articles:
AFGHANISTAN: Training Cops Not
In a mud-walled village on the outskirts of the provincial capital of Qalat, police checkpoint commander Abdul Rasool complains he is tired of his country's six-year war and longs for peace.
Despite Rasool's appeal, he represents what the U.S. military thinks is wrong with Afghanistan's police, a force wracked by corruption that was long neglected as the army took front and centre in securing the nation's borders and fighting the insurgency.
Standing nearby, U.S. army Capt. Dave Perry points out that trucks are being "destroyed" close to the checkpoint the Afghan comman... Read more
|
 Article sourced from
|
|
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,A
19 October 2006
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
|
|
Robber detective jailed for 15
IN FOOTY-OBSESSED Melbourne, it seemed like a clever plan.
While occupants of a drug house were away watching Brisbane play Collingwood in the 2003 grand final, policeman David Miechel and criminal Terence Hodson would break in and steal their stash.
Miechel, a drug squad detective, knew the Oakleigh house well. He was part of a crew investigating a group supposedly using the dwelling to make and store ecstasy pills and to hide the big amounts of cash generated by their sale.
Police sat and watched the activities, and installed a surveillance camera near the property to monitor comings and goings.
Every day, the surveillance tape required changing, and on grand final day Miechel volunteered for the job.
He had come to know Hodson after charging him with drug offences. He was also a police "handler" for Hodson, who agreed to become an informer following his arrest.
On the day of the burglary, Miechel met Hodson at a school near the drug house. They moved to the premises, broke a porch light and kicked in the front door shortly before 7.20pm.
Within four minutes, drugs valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars were stolen and lobbed over a back fence in bags for retrieval later. Miechel and Hodson then left the house, and walked back towards the school.
But the plan unravelled quickly. A neighbour saw the break-in and called police, who came with dogs. After a chase, Miechel was caught by police dog Silky and his handler.
He told the handler: "I'm in the job," indicating he was a policeman, then tried to escape again. He was eventually subdued, and spent 10 days in hospital after being mauled by the dog.
Eight months after his arrest at the school, Hodson was executed, with his wife Christine, at his Kew home. No one has been arrested for their murders in May 2004.
Hodson, 56, apparently agreed to give evidence against Miechel and another policeman, Detective Sergeant Paul Dale, regarding an alleged conspiracy to burgle the Oakleigh house. He is said to have promised co-operation in other cases with anti-corruption police.
Miechel and Dale denied any knowledge of the Hodsons' murder.
The Oakleigh drug house case against Dale was dropped after Hodson's death. Dale was sacked by Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon, but her decision was overturned by the Supreme Court.
Miechel was convicted by a Supreme Court jury of drug trafficking, burglary and theft over the Oakleigh house break-in.
Sentencing Miechel in August to 15 years' jail, Justice Betty King agreed with Miechel's lawyers that his case was tragic.
"(It is tragic) for you because it is a complete and total fall from your previously respected position.
"And for the community, as it weakens their faith in the members of the police force and undermines their confidence as to the moral fibre of those serving men and women," Justice King said.
Miechel, a career police officer known for his fitness, long hours at work and ethics, was now being spat on and threatened in prison, and able to leave his cell for only one hour a day, Justice King said.
Miechel will serve a minimum of 12 years in jail.
|
| |
 EiP Comments:
|
|---|
|
| |
* We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper or periodical. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and we will remove the article. The articles republished on this site are provided for the purposes of research , private study, criticism , review, and the reporting of current events' We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper , periodical or other works. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and where necessary we will remove the work concerned.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 |
Ethics in Policing, based in the UK, provide information and advice about the following:
Policing Research | Police News articles | Police Corruption | International Policing | Police Web Sites | Police Forum | Policing Ethics | Police Journals | Police Publications |
|
| |
|
