NEWS > 09 June 2007

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The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,A
09 June 2007

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'Corruption risk high' at St K

THREE senior officers at St Kilda police station have been transferred following a lengthy internal investigation that has led to the workplace being declared a "high-risk corruption station".

Investigators from the ethical standards department recently arrived at the station unannounced and ordered the officer in charge, Senior Sergeant John Hauer, and sergeants Rick Lewis and Nathan Kaeser to pack their desks for reassignment.

Sergeants Lewis and Kaeser are two of three policemen being sued in the County Court for damages following a violent struggle with a drunk man at the station.

Sergeants Lewis and Kaeser and a third officer, Sergeant Andrew Falconer � the son of former Victorian deputy commissioner and former West Australian police commissioner Bob Falconer � are named as defendants in a writ issued last month.

In the statement of claim by Grant Watkins, 27, the three officers are alleged to have unlawfully assaulted him on May 14, 2005, when he was arrested by Sergeant Falconer for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.

After he had been interviewed, Mr Watkins claims the officers grabbed hold of him and punched him several times, held him around the neck and pushed him against a wall.

He sustained fractures to his teeth, multiple abrasions to his neck and head, bruises and swelling.

A magistrate last year dismissed all charges against Mr Watkins for assaulting and resisting police after she found the officers had acted unlawfully. Her comments contradicted an earlier ethical standards department and Office of Police Integrity review of the incident.

Sergeant Lewis was also one of two officers investigated last year by the ethical standards department over their connection to a lucrative hot dog business, Shot Dogs, which was believed to be making up to $10,000 each weekend outside some of Melbourne's most popular night spots.

They were allegedly paying off-duty officers cash to sell hot dogs and that marked police cars had been seen delivering bread rolls and other food to vans when supplies ran low.

Following the forced transfers, all staff at St Kilda were recently told that the station had been declared a high-risk environment. Force command has subsequently launched a health and wellbeing review.

All uniform and criminal investigations police have been asked to participate in the review by risk management consultants RTK Resolutions at a budgeted cost of $20,000.

Sergeant Kaeser is now working at the force's special projects unit, Sergeant Lewis is at Collingwood police station and Senior Sergeant Hauer has been upgraded to acting inspector.

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Article sourced from

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,A09 June 2007

'Corruption risk high' at St K

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The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,A
09 June 2007