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| NEWS > 16 March 2007 |
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Canada: Victoria police chief
The mayor of Victoria, B.C., announced Thursday that the chief of police had been removed from his position until allegations of misconduct could be investigated.
"Police Chief Paul Battershill is on administrative leave effective immediately to enable the police board to review and respond to the issues that have been brought to our attention," Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe said in a statement released Thursday.
Battershill was suspended with pay after an emergency police board meeting was called late Wednesday to discuss a letter that alleged misconduct. Officials have not o... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,A
16 March 2007
This article appeared in the above title/site.
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Police union cops fire from su
A SENIOR Victorian policeman with almost 50 years experience has resigned as a member of the Police Association due to what he describes as the "reprehensible behaviour and attitude" of association secretary Paul Mullett.
In the letter of resignation to the association, Superintendent George Fisk, who has been a member of the union for more than 40 years, states he "cannot remain in the association with the current leadership team".
In the letter, which has been leaked to The Age, Mr Fisk states he has lost confidence in the association because of a number of issues including the "back-room deal" Mr Mullett struck with the Labor Party.
Premier Steve Bracks was forced to admit last month that he and then police minister Tim Holding signed a secret deal with the association — arguably Victoria's most powerful union — in the lead-up to the November state election.
Mr Mullett publicly endorsed the Labor Party's law and order policies and agreements were made on pay and conditions and new weapons — semi-automatic weapons and more Taser stun guns — among other things.
The deal was made without the knowledge or involvement of Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon.
Mr Fisk's resignation letter expresses particular concern about the weapons aspect of the deal, claiming the agreement was reached "with no business case, no risk assessment, no understanding of issues in relation to gun grabs and the effect police shootings have on the victims of police shootings and their families, not to mention the members involved and their families".
He claims the association has therefore ignored all safety principles. "All of the history, the reviews, the outcomes have been dismissed."
During his career, Mr Fisk played a major role in investigating police shootings and helped implement Project Beacon, a training program for officers encouraging a "minimum use of force" in subduing alleged offenders. It also focused on occupational safety.
During his career he has also helped introduce crime scene protocols, capsicum spray, operational safety tactics training and played a significant role in reducing the number of illegal firearms across Victoria.
He has been awarded an Australian Police Medal.
More recently, Mr Fisk spent six months working at the Office of Police Integrity and now works at the Corporate Management Review Division.
He could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Another senior officer, who contacted The Age, said he was not surprised by the move.
The officer, who declined to be named, said: "I wouldn't be surprised if there was a groundswell of members who are really ticked off with the association and the association secretary, who are considering doing the same.
"We expect a high degree of discipline and respect from Victoria Police and the same from our association … I don't deny they're making sure that we are paid well and doing the right thing by us is other areas but we don't pay them (the association) to support one political party over another.
"If I want to join the Labor Party I'll become a paid-up member.
"The police force does not belong to a political party, it belongs to the Victorian community."
Mr Fisk is the latest serving officer to speak out against the union.
Superintendent Brett Guerin, who has been a union member for 29 years, told The Age earlier this month that there was growing disquiet about the damage being done to the force.
He described the union's 12-member board as respected police, but said they were failing to wrest control of the association's policies and public image from Mr Mullett.
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