Tebbet v Commissioner of Police

[1982] AFPDT 6

I S T H E FEDELAL	FOLICL	)
-

D1 SCI PLI S.AR!' TRI EUS.4L ) S o . 10 o f 1982

ROBERT J O H S T E B B E T

THE COFlhiISSIOSER OF POLICE

R e s p o n d e n t l

O R D E R S

Amended 2 3 December 1 9 8 2

THE FRESIDEST

6 DECEhlBER 1 9 8 2

C-ASBERR-A, -4. C . T.

THE TRIRUS.\L ORDERS 'I'HAT :

1. The a p p e a l b e u p h e l d .

2 . I n l i e u o f t h e p e n a l t y o f d i s m i s s a l f r o m t h e A u s t r a l i a n 1

F e d e r a l P o l i c e F o r c e i m p o s e d by t h e Commiss ioner o f P o l i c

S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e R . J . T e b b e t b e r e d u c e d i n r a n k t o t h a t

o f F i r s t C o n s t a b l e , t h e r e d u c t i o n i n r a n k t o t a k e e f f e c

f o r t h \ \ . i t ! ? ( i . e . from 6 December 1 9 8 2 ) .

I S THE FEDERAL POLICE

1

No. 9 o f 1982

SYDSEY REGISTRY	j
BETI'IrEEN :  KENXETH ANTHONY SCHNEI DERS

A p p e l l a n t

AND :  THE COJD1I SS1 ONER OF POLICE

Responden t

O R D E R S

-Amended 2 3 December 1982

THE	PRESI D E N T
C-ANBE RRA .	A. C . 'l .

THE TRT BUS.AL ORDERS THAT :

1 . The a p p e a l b e u p h e l d .

2 . I n l i e u o f t h e p e n a l t y o f d i s m i s s a l f rom t h e A u s t r a l i a n

F e d e r a l P o l i c e F o r c e imposed by t h e Commiss ioner o f P o l i c e

t h e a n n u a l r a t e o f s a l a r y o f P r o t e c t i v e S e l - l r i c e C o n s t a b l e

K..4.	S c h n e i d e r s b e	r e d u c e d	t o an	amount	p e r annum	e q u a l
t o t h a t	p a y a b l e	t o a P r o t e c t i v e	S e r v i c e	C o n s t a b l e	who	h a s

j u s t c o m p l e t e d one ; \ . e a r ' s s e r v i c e i n t h a t r a n k , t h e

r e d u c t i o n	t o t a k e e f f e c t	f o r t h w i t h	( i . e .	f r om	6	December
1982'1.

I N THE	FEDERAL	P O L I C E	1
1
U1 S C I PLTNARY	?'RIBUKAL	1	1

N o . 8 of 1982

SYDNEY REGISTRY

blI CHAEL LAUGHTON HESRY

A p p e l l a n t

THE CObBIISSIONER O F POLICE

R e s p o n d e n t

O R D E R S

THE P R E S I D E N T

6	DECEIdBER	1 9 8 2
CANBERRA,	A.	C.T.

THE TRIBUXAL ORDERS THAT: 

1 . T h e appeal be d i s m i s s e d .

2 . T h e d i s m i s s a l o f P r o t e c t i v e Service Senior C o n s t a b l e

M.L. H e n r y f r o m the A u s t r a l i a n F e d e r a l P o l i c e F o r c e

take e f fect f o r t h w i t h .

I N 1 H E FEDERAL POLICE	1
1 .

D I S C I P L I N A R Y	TRIBUNAL	1	N o .	10 of 1982
1

SYDNEY REGISTRY J

BEThTEN :  ROBERT JOHN TEBBET

A p p e l l a n t

THE CObIlt!ISSIONER OF POLICE

R e s p o n d e n t

REASONS FOR D E C I S I O N : KELLY. J .

6 DECEFIBER 1 9 8 2

IN THE FEDERAL POLICE	)	I
1

No. 9 of 1982

SYDNEY REGISTRY $

KEKNETH ANTHOKY SCHNEI DERS

Appellant

THE COII!hfISSIONER O F P O L I C E

Respondent

REASONS FOR D E C I S I O X : KELLY, J .

6 DECEMBER 1982

IN THE FEDEKAL POLICE	)
1

No. 8 of 1982

SYDNEY REGI STRI'

BETIEEX :  M1 CHAEL LAUGHTON HENRY

Appel lant

THE C O ~ O I I S S I O N E R OF POLICE

Respondent

REASONS FOR D E C I S I O X : KELLY, J .

6 DECEMBER 1982

On 1 0 , 11 and 1 2 December 1980, P r o t e c t i v e S e r v i c e

S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e R. J. Tebbe t , P r o t e c t i v e S e r v i c e Cons t a b l e

F i r s t	C l a s s bl. L.	Henry	and	P r o t e c t i v e	S e r v i c e Cons tab les
K.A.	S c h n e i d e r s and R. J.	Gale ,	a l l t h e n members	o f	t h e

P r o t e c t i v e S e r v i c e Component o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n F e d e r a l P o l i c e ,

were p a r t o f t h e e lement o f t h a t Component cha rged w i t h t h e

d u t y o f m a i n t a i n i n g t h e s e c u r i t y of t h e Commonwealth !!unitions

F i l l i n g F a c t o r y a t S t .	biarys	n e a r Sydney.	On	10 December	1980
S e n i o r Cons t a b l e	Tebbet	was	t h e	non-commissioned	o f f i c e r

(N.C.O.) i n charge o f t h e 2 ? .m. t o 10 p.m. s h i f t w h i l e

C o n s t a b l e F i r s t C l a s s Henry was t h e N.C .O. i n c h a r g e o f t h e

10 p.m. t o 6 a.m. (11 December 1980) s h i f t . Cons tab le

S c h n e i d e r s was one o f t h e two c o n s t a b l e s who w i t h S e n i o r

C o n s t a b l e Tebbet made	up	t h e 2 p.m-	t o 10 p.m.	s h i f t w h i l e
C o n s t a b l e Gale formed p a r t of	t h e 10 p-m.	t o 6	a.m.	s h i f t .

I t seems t h a t Constable S c h n e i d e r s was r o s t e r e d t o comple te

t h e p e r s o n n e l o f t h e 10 p.m. t o 6 a.m. s h i f t , a t least from

10 p.m. t o 12 midnight . What m a t r e r s f o r t h e purposes o f

t h i s a p p e a l i s t h a t t h e r e were p r e s e n t on t h e s t a t i o n a t

p.m. on 10 December 1980 S e n i o r Cons tab le Tebbet , C o n s t a b l e

F i r s t C l a s s Henry and Cons tab le S c h n e i d e r s . Cons t a b l e Gale

s h o u l d have been p r e s e n t . He was n o t .

I t a k e u~ t h e s t o r y a s r e l a t e d by P r o t e c t i v e

S e r v i c e S e r g e a n t W. T a l b o t .

A t approximate ly 11.20 p.m. on 10 December 1980

S e r g e a n t T a l b o t , who e x e r c i s e d a r o v i n g s u p e r v i s o r y r o l e o v e r

s t a t i o n s	i n	t h e	a r e a which	i n c l u d e d	t h e >!unitions	F i l l i n g
F a c t o r y	a t S t .	f.!arys,	a r r i v e d a t t h a t s t a t i o n .	A s	he	e n t e r e d
' .

t h e	g a t e he	n o t i c e d Cons tab le	F i r s t	C l a s s Henry	i n t h e
P o l i c e O f f i c e	and Cons tab le	Gale	a t t h e	d r i v e r ' s	door of

h i s p r i v a t e v e h i c l e pa rked a d j a c e n t t o t h e P o l i c e O f f i c e .

S e r g e a n t T a l b o t pa rked h i s v e h i c l e , acknowledged Cons tab le

G a l e ' s p r e s e n c e and e n t e r e d t h e P o l i c e O f f i c e where he

spoke w i t h Cons tab le F i r s t C l a s s Henry. He a s k e d , "What

a r e two members d o i n g h e r e a t t h e s t a t i o n a t t h i s t ime o f

t h e	s h i f t ? "	Cons tab le	F i r s t C l a s s Henry	r e p l i e d ,	"Well,
C o n s t a b l e Gale	d i d n o t g e t h e r e	u n t i l 22.50	hours	[10.50	p.m.1.

h3en I came on s h i f t S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e R. Tebbet p a s s e d a

message t o me t h a t Cons tab le Gale would be l a t e r e p o r t i n g

f o r d u t y t o n i g h t . H e has been h e r e f o r a h a l f h o u r and I

c a n ' t g e t him t o go on p a t r o l . " S e r g e a n t T a l b o t s a i d ,

"What	time	d i d Cons tab le Gale	s i g n on?"	Cons tab le	F i r s t
C l a s s Henry r e p l i e d ,	"2200	hours	[ l 0 p.m. J	b u t h e was	n o t

h e r e then."

S e r g e a n t T a l b o t then asked C o n s t a b l e Gale t o s t e p

i n t o t h e S e r g e a n t ' s o f f i c e s o t h a t he might speak t o him

l

a b o u t h i s s t i l l b e i n g a t t h e s t a t i o n one hour and 20 minutes

a f t e r he a l l e g e d l y s i g n e d on f o r du ty . C o n s t a b l e Gale e n t e r e d

t h a t o f f i c e and was s e a t e d . During t h e s u b s e q u e n t c o n v e r s a t i o n

he d e n i e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h a t he had a r r i v e d a t t h e s t a t i o n f o r d u t y a t

l

10.50 p.m. He c la imed t h a t he had s i g n e d on

a t 10 p.m. i n accordance w i t h t h e n o t a t i o n i n t h e Attendance

Book.	Asked	by	S e r g e a n t T a l b o t what	h e was	do ing	a t t h e
P o l i c e O f f i c e	a t 11.20	p . m . ,	he	s t a t e d t h a t he	was	c o l l e c t i n g

h i s	meal	from	t h e	v e h i c l e .	A s	t h e	c o n v e r s a t i o n	p r o g r e s s e d
S e r g e a n t	T a l b o t	s u g g e s t e d	t h a t	Cons tab le	Gale	might	have	a

d r i n k i n g problem. Cons tab le Gale agreed t h a t S e r g e a n t T a l b o t

S e r g e a n t T a l b o t t h e n t o l d Cons tab le Gale t h a t

might be r i g h t .

unde r t he c i r cums t ances he proposed t o recommend t h a t

Cons tab le Gale be t r a n s f e r r e d . A s Constable Gale s t o o d

up t o l e ave he pa s sed c l o s e t o Sergeant Ta lbo t who n o t e d

t h a t h i s b r e a t h s m e l t s t r o n g l y o f a l coho l . He a sked

Cons tab le Gale whe ther he was capable o f d r i v i n g a v e h i c l e .

Cons tab le Gale a s s u r e d him t h a t he was. S e r g e a n t T a l b o t

o r d e r e d him t o l e a v e t h e Of f i c e and commence p a t r o l l i n g .

Cons t ab l e Gale l e f t . A f t e r Constable Gale l e f t S e r g e a n t

T a l b o t had a n o t h e r c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h Constable F i r s t C l a s s

Henry du r ing which Cons tab le F i r s t Class Henry a g a i n

a s s u r e d him t h a t Cons t ab l e Gale had no t a r r i v e d f o r du ty

u n t i l 10.50 p.m. A t abou t 11.45 p.m. Constable He rbe r t son

a r r i v e d t o commence d u t y , obv ious ly t o t ake o v e r from

Cons t ab l e	Schne ide r s .
I n h i s s t a t e m e n t which was t endered by counse l f o r

t h e	Commissioner	o f	P o l i c e w i thou t	o b j e c t i o n by	counse l	f o r
t h e t h r e e f o r a t t e n d i n g t h e s t a t i o n a t an unusual	a p p e l l a n t s ,	Se rgean t	Ta lbo t	s a i d t h a t	h i s	r e a son

t i m e 111.20 p.m.1

was t h a t d u r i n g h i s p r e v i o u s v i s i t a t 2.15 a.m. on 10 December

1980 he was abou t t o l e a v e when Constable F i r s t C l a s s Henry

c a l l e d him a s i d e t o t e l l him t h a t he had been hav ing t r o u b l e

w i t h Cons tab le Gale. Cons tab le F i r s t C lass Henry s a i d t h a t

Cons t ab l e Gale i n t e n d e d t o go t o t h e Rooty H i l l R.S.L. Club

on	t h e even ing o f	10 December	1980 wi th a group	i n c l u d i n g
some	members	from t h e S t . Marys	s t a t i o n .	Cons tab le F i r s t

C l a s s Henry was	apprehens ive t h a t Constable Gale would come
on s h i f t a t 10 p.m.	a f t e r t h a t v i s i t and r e q u e s t e d t h a t

S e r g e a n t Ta lbo t shou ld a t t e n d a t t h e S t . Ilarys s t a t i o n as

soon a s . p o s s i b l e a f t e r t h e commencement o f t h e 10 ?.m. s h i f t .

There i s no d e t a i l e d e v i d e n c e o f what happened

n e x t	morning	between	S e r g e a n t	T a l b o t	and	h i s	s u p e r i o r ,
I n s p e c t o r	Casey,	b u t	from	S e r g e a n t	T a l b o t l s ev idence	I	draw

a number o f i n f e r e n c e s which seem t o me t o be open on t h a t

e v i d e n c e and i n a l l t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t

on t h e morning o f 11 December 1980 S e r g e a n t T a l b o t r e p o r t e d

t o I n s p e c t o r Casey t h a t Cons tab le Gale had a r r i v e d l a t e f o r

d u t y on t h e even ing b e f o r e and t h a t he a l s o recommended t o

I n s p e c t o r Casey t h a t Constable Gale s h o u l d be t r a n s f e r r e d

from t h e S t . 3larys s t a t i o n . I am a l s o s a t i s f i e d t h a t sometime

d u r i n g t h e morning o f 11 December 1980, I n s p e c t o r Casey s o u g h t

a r e p o r t on t h e t ime o f Constable G a l e ' s a r r i v a l f o r d u t y

t h e e v e n i n g S h o r t l y a f t e r midnight b e f o r e .

on F r i d a y , 12 December 1980,

S e r g e a n t	T a l b o t	a t t e n d e d a t	t h e	S t .	Flarys	s t a t i o n t o c o l l e c t
r e p o r t s	from Cons tab le	F i r s t C l a s s	Henry	and	Cons tab le	Gale.

When a t t h e s t a t i o n he had a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h C o n s t a b l e F i r s t

C l a s s Henry. I n h i s s t a t e m e n t of 12 December 1980, a d m i t t e d

w i t h o u t o b j e c t i o n , S e r g e a n t T a l b o t r e p o r t e d t h e subsequen t

e v e n t s	a s	f o l l o w s : -
"[Henry] s t a t e d t h a t he had r e c e i v e d a phone
c a l l from S e n i o r Cons tab le R. TEBBET, a t
approx imate ly 13.30 h o u r s Thursday, 1 1 t h
December, 1980.
During t h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n TEBBET a l l e g e d l y
t o l d HENRY, he was submit t ing a r e p o r t t o
t h e e f f e c t t h a t he had s i g h t e d G A L E , i n
t h e P o l i c e O f f i c e , S t . lilarys S t a t i o n a t 22.00
h o u r s on Wednesday, 1 0 t h December, 1980.
TEBBETT, went on t h a t Cons tab le K . SCHNEIDERS,
was s u b m i t t i n g a r e p o r t t o t h a t e f f e c t a l s o .
TEBBET, s u g g e s t e d t h a t HENRY, do t h e same.
HENRY, went on t h a t h e had made o u t t h e r e p o r t
t o I n s p e c t o r CASEY, a s s u g g e s t e d by TEBBET, t h a t
GALE had commenced d u t y a t 22.00 hours .
.
I s a i d : '?lick! You r e q u e s t e d my a s s i s t a n c e

i n	t h i s m a t t e r ,	made	c e r t a i n a l l e g a t i o n s
a g a i n s t GALE,	l a s t n i g h t knowing	t h a t	I

would a c t on your i n f o r m a t i o n and

now you do t h i s t o me.

He s a i d : 'What e l s e c o u l d I do? A f t e r a l l

I have t o work and l i v e w i t h t h e s e

b l o k e s . You don1 t . You're i n town

and don' t s e e them. Anyway, you

w o n ' t have t o w a i t long, GALE, w i l l

r e s i g n . I f e e l l o u s y and would

r e s i g n myself on ly I have a f a m i l y

and need t h e money.'

I	t u r n e d a round	and p o i n t e d	t o my	back.
I	s a i d :	'Would	you	l i k e t o p u l l t h e k n i f e

o u t o f my back? '

HENRY, made no comment.

I c o l l e c t e d t h e r e p o r t s and l e f t t h e S t a t i o n . "

I

I n a subsequent s t a t e m e n t made on 19 October 1981, S e r g e a n t

i I

T a l b o t r ecorded a g a i n t h e i n c i d e n t o f t h e t e l e p h o n e c a l l between

~

Tebbet and Henry i n t h e f o l l o w i n g words :-

"Whilst	t h e r e	F i r s t Cons tab le Henry	s a i d
t o me:-

' A t a p p r o x i m a t e l y h a l f p a s t one today I

r e c e i v e d a c a l l from Bob TEBBET. H e s a i d

t h a t I n s p e c t o r CASEY was c a l l i n g f o r r e p o r t s

a s t o t h e time Bob GALE commenced d u t y on

t h e n i g h t o f 1 0 December. He went on t o

s a y t h a t GALE, SCHNEIDERS and h i m s e l f were

go ing t o s t a t e t h a t GALE was p r e s e n t a t t h e

change o f s h i f t and s i g n e d on a t 10 p-m.

I was t o l d t o s a y t h e same t h i n g which was

GALE commenced work a t 10 o ' c l o c k . ' "

There i s no m a t e r i a l d i f f e r e n c e between t h e r e p o r t

made	by	S e r g e a n t T a l b o t	on	1 2 December	1980 and h i s	s t a t e m e n t
made	on	19 October	1981 e x c e p t	t h a t i n t h e e a r l i e r v e r s i o n	o f	l

t h e	c o n v e r s a t i o n	between	Tebbet	and	Henry	i t	is	s a i d t h a t	I
Tebbe t	s u g g e s t e d	t h a t Henry	do	t h e	same	and	i n	t h e	l a t e r v e r s i o n

Henry i s recorded a s h a v i n g s a i d "I was t o l d t o s a y t h e same

l

t h i n g which was Gale commenced work a t 10 o1 clockt1.

I a c c e p t e d S e r g e a n t T a l b o t a s a w i t n e s s o f t r u t h .

Indeed h i s t r u t h f u l n e s s and conduct seem e n t i r e l y v i n d i c a t e d

by e v e n t s . However, I p r e f e r what he s a i d i n h i s r e p o r t o f

12 Decembec 1980 c o n c e r n i n g t h e t e l ephone c o n v e r s a t i o n between

T e b b e t	and	Henry	t o t h e	v e r s i o n	g iven	i n	t h e	i n t e r v i e w	i n
O c t o b e r	1981.	I	p r e f e r	t h e	e a r l i e r v e r s i o n	because	i t	was	l

made a l m o s t contemporaneously w i t h t h e e v e n t s i n q u e s t i o n .

l

The	l a t e r v e r s i o n	does	n o t	a r g u e	d i s h o n e s t y	on	S e r g e a n t	T a l b o t l s	1
l

p a r t , mere ly , I n h i s r e p o r t of i n my view, a mis taken i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . i

11 December 1980 made t o t h e O f f i c e r 1

i n Charge ,	E a s t e r n	D i v i s i o n ,	Cons t a b l e	Gale	s t a t e d	t h a t ,	l
I

"On	t h e t e n t h o f December,	1980,	I	a t t e n d e d
my	r o s t e r e d	s h i f t , b e i n g	t h e	10 t o 6 s h i f t

a t 9.55pm.

. . . About 11.20pm I r e t u r n e d t o b a s e , t o

c l o s e t h e windows o f my v e h i c l e and t o p i c k

up my d i n n e r , which I had f o r g o t t o t a k e

w i t h me.

A t t h a t time, S e r g e a n t TALBOT a r r i v e d and

asked m e i n t o t h e o f f i c e . S e r g e a n t TALBOT

asked what time I a r r i v e d a t work. I s a i d

I a r r i v e d a t 9.55pm. He t h e n i n s t r u c t e d

m e t o resume p a t r o l s , which I did."

On	t h e	same	day	C o n s t a b l e	F i r s t C l a s s Henry	r e p o r t e d	l
l

t o t h e same o f f i c e r ,

i

"1 > s v e t o r e p o r t t h a t I was t h e S h i f t N.C.O.

o f L 10/6 s h i f t l O t h / l l t h December 1980

a t t i . j u s t r a l i a n F e d e r a l P o l i c e S t a t i o n a t

t h e S:.	!a rys Muni t ions	F i l l i n g	Fac to ry .
bfembers	o f t h e s h i f t were	Cons tab les	R.GALE
AND K.

myself a t 10.00pm a t t h e commencement o f SCHNEIDERS who were p r e s e n t w i t h

t h a t s h i f t . "

S e n i o r Cons t a b l e "1 concluded my Tebbet r e p o r t e d , l

s h i f t a t 10.OOp.m. on t h e

1 0 t h December 1980, and upon c o n c l u s i o n o f

my d u t i e s I n o t e d t h a t P/S, Cons tab le GALE.

R. was Submit ted upon i n a t t e n d a n c e a t t h e P o l i c e O f f i c e .

t h e r e q u e s t o f A/Insp. SWINTON.

A.H. f o r in fo rmat ion . "

C o n s t a b l e Schne ide r s r e p o r t e d ,

* * J u s t b e f o r e I was due t o l e a v e a t 10.00 p.m.

' f o r my h o u r l y t o u r o f t h e a r e a , I n o t e d t h a t

P.S. Cons tab le GALE. R, was i n a t t e n d a n c e a t

t h e P o l i c e O f f i c e .

submi t t ed upon t he r e q u e s t o f A/Insp.

A. SWINTON f o r your in fo rmat ion . "

A t S e r g e a n t T a l b o t t s r e q u e s t , t h e i n c i d e n t was

i n v e s t i g a t e d .	On	19 Ifarch	1981 Act ing	I n s p e c t o r	Bradley
r e p o r t e d	t o t h e O f f i c e r	i n Charge,	E a s t e r n	D i v i s i o n .	The

i n v e s t i g a t i o n c a r r i e d o u t seems t o have been p e r f u n c t o r y .

I t is c l e a r t h a t Ac t ing I n s p e c t o r Bradley had a v a i l a b l e t o

him t h e r e p o r t made by Sergean t T a l b o t on 12 December 1980 a s

well a s t h e f o u r s t a t emen t s from which I have j u s t quoted. He

made, a s I f i n d , no i n q u i r y o f S e r g e a n t T a l b o t o r o f Sen io r

l Cons t ab l e Tebbet . I do n o t t h i n k it n e c e s s a r y t o dec ide

C! whe the r he i n t e r v i e w e d Constables Schne ide r s and Gale a l though

I r a t h e r doub t t h a t he d id . The on ly o f f i c e r whom I can be

c e r t a i n he i n t e r v i e w e d concerning t h e whole m a t t e r was

Cons t ab l e F i r s t C l a s s Henry who den i ed t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n he

had had w i t h S e r g e a n t Ta lbo t about Gale.

In t h e e v e n t , Acting I n s p e c t o r Brad ley d i smi s sed t h e

matter a s a "non-event1* which shou ld have been d e a l t wi th

e n t i r e l y a t s t a t i o n l e v e l .

. .

One o t h e r i n c i d e n t ough t t o be recorded . Sho r t l y

a f t e r Chr i s tmas 1980 Sergean t T a l b o t on a r o u t i n e v i s i t t o

S t . Marys S t a t i o n saw Constable F i r s t C l a s s Henry aga in .

Henry approached him and s a i d , "Sorry abou t t h e Gale a f f a i r .

I owe you one." Se rgean t Ta lbo t r e p l i e d , "Yes, Nick, and

I ' l l c o l l e c t . " I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h a t i n c i d e n t took p l ace .

Fol lowing r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s made by Se rgean t Ta lbo t

a	d e t a i l e d	and	thorough	i n v e s t i g a t i o n was	c a r r i e d ou t .	This
b rough t	t o	l i g h t	t h e	f a c t s and,	i n p a r t i c u l a r ,	t h a t S e n i o r
Cons t ab l e	Tebbe t ,	Constable	F i r s t	C l a s s Henry	and	Constables

Schne ide r s . and Gale had made f a l s e r e p o r t s concern ing Gale ' s

a t t e n d a n c e on	t h e even ing o f	10 December	1980 a t S t .	Marys
S t a t i o n .

P a r t o f t h e s u c c e s s f u l i n v e s t i g a t i o n c o n s i s t e d

o f i n t e r v i e w s wi th t h e t h r e e appe l l an t s on 2 2 October 1981

and 2 1 January 1982. The i n v e s t i g a t i n g o f f i c e r s were Chief I

I n s p e c t o r Burrows and Act ing Inspec tor Halmarick. 1

lien in t e rv i ewed i n October 1981, Cons t a b l e F i r s t I I

Class Henry denied t h a t he had requested Se rgean t T a l b o t l s i I

a s s i s t a n c e i n d e a l i n g w i t h Gale and adhered t o h i s w r i t t e n

1 l

s t a t e m e n t	t h a t Gale had	r epo r t ed	f o r duty on	t ime	on	10	I
l

December 1980. I t is n o t too much t o say t h a t t h e answers

l
l

r eco rded i n the r eco rd o f in te rv iew were a t i s s u e o f l i e s .

S i g n i f i c a n t l y , however, he agreed t h a t Sergeant Ta lbo t had

s a i d t o him,	"Would	you	l i k e t o p u l l	the k n i f e o u t o f my
back?"

l

On 10 November 1981, the i n v e s t i g a t i n g o f f i c e r s l

a p p a r e n t l y	i n t e rv i ewed Constable Gale	and	a	r e c o r d was	made	l
I

o f t h a t i n t e rv i ew. On 21 January 1982 Constable Henry was

a g a i n in t e rv i ewed and shown the record of t h e i n t e r v i e w wi th

Cons tab le Gale. He then admit ted the f a l s i t y o f h i s s ta tement

and gave a more d e t a i l e d account o f what had happened. He

a g r e e d t h a t he had t a l k e d wi th Schneiders about t h e r e p o r t

which had a l r e a d y been submi t ted by Schneiders and s a i d t h a t

he would p u t i n a r e p o r t t o the e f f e c t t h a t Gale was p r e s e n t

a t t h e s t a r t o f t h e s h i f t t o balance the a t t endance book. He

was then asked whether o r n o t t he re had n o t been q u i t e a

d i s c u s s i o n between Schne iders and him as t o what he was going

t o do and s a y because o f t h e involvement of Sergeant Ta lbo t .

H e r e p l i e d , " I t was sometime a f t e r , a few days a f t e r ; t h e r e

w a s a d i s c u s s i o n w i t h Constable Schneiders t h a t we had t o

s t i c k wcthethe e n t r y i n t h e book even though Gale had n o t go t

there. ' ' He was then a sked , "I f u r t h e r p u t i t t o you t h a t you

c o n s p i r e d w i t h Schne ide r s t o d e c e i v e n o t o n l y S e r g e a n t

T a l b o t b u t Ac t ing I n s p e c t o r Swinton and I n s p e c t o r Casey

by v i r t u e o f a f a l s e and m i s l e a d i n g r e p o r t . Khat have

you	t o s a y abou t	t h a t ? "	H e	r e p l i e d ,	"That	i s c o r r e c t .
I	d i d submi t a	r e p o r t	t h a t was	i n c o r r e c t ,	because	t h e
A t t e n d a n c e	Book	was	wrong."	H e went	on	t o s a y t h a t Tebbe t

had t e l e p h o n e d him a t home t o t e l l him, i n t e r a l i a , t h a t

Ga le had been	t r a n s f e r r e d and everyone had	t o p u t	i n
r e p o r t s t o I n s p e c t o r Casey	a s t o what	t ime	Gale had

commenced d u t y t h e p r e v i o u s n i g h t .

I n due c o u r s e p r o c e e d i n g s were i n s t i t u t e d u n d e r

R e g u l a t i o n 19 o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n Federa l P o l i c e ( D i s c i p l i n e )

R e g u l a t i o n s c h a r g i n g C o n s t a b l e F i r s t C l a s s Henry t h a t on l

11 December 1980 i n a r e p o r t a d d r e s s e d t o t h e Officer i n Charge, I

E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , he knowingly made i n t h e c o u r s e o f h i s

d u t i e s a f a l s e w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t , namely, "Members o f t h e

s h i f t were	Cons tab les R.	Ga le and K.	S c h n e i d e r s who were	l l
p r e s e n t w i t h myself	a t 10.00	p.m.	a t t h e commencement	o f

t h a t s h i f t 1 ' . He was f u r t h e r cha rged under t h e same R e g u l a t i o n

t h a t , b e i n g aware t h a t Rober t George Gale had knowingly made

a n e n t r y a t t h e S t . t h a t was f a l s e i n t h e r e c o r d o f a t t e n d a n c e o f members

bIarys Munit ions F i l l i n g Fac to ry s t a t i o n , h e f a i l e d

t o r e p o r t on t h a t e n t r y and, by h i s omiss ion , was d i r e c t l y

knowingly	a	p a r t y	t o	t h e commission	o f	t h a t	d i s c i p l i n a r y	o f f e n c e
by	Gale.	The	p a r t i c u l a r s	o f	t h e o f f e n c e	j u s t	r e f e r r e d	t o

i n c l u d e t h e words " t h a t was". These words a r e , s o f a r a s I

c a n see, meaningless i n t h e c o n t e x t . The n a t u r e o f t h e c h a r g e

was c l e a r , c o n s i d e r a t i o n . however, and I s i m p l y d i s c a r d t h o s e two words from

S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e Henry (he was promoted t o t h a t

r ank on t o c o n s t i t u t e each 4 )!arch 1981) a d m i t t e d t h e t r u t h o f t h e f a c t s a l l e g e d

d i s c i p l i n a r y o f f e n c e and a f t e r t h e p r e s c r i b e d l ,

p r o c e d u r e s	had been	fo l lowed was	d e a l t w i t h by	t h e	Commissioner	1	l
of	P o l i c e	who	d i s m i s s e d him	from	t h e ' A u s t r a l i a n	F e d e r a l	P o l i c e

Force. He h a s a p p e a l e d t o t h i s T r i b u n a l a g a i n s t t h a t d i s m i s s a l

on	t h e ground	t h a t t h e p e n a l t y imposed was	t o o s e v e r e .	1
l

In h i s r e a s o n s f o r h i s f i n d i n g t h e Commissioner l

s t a t e d t h a t Henry, Tebbet and S c h n e i d e r s had s t a t e d t o him

i n a lmos t	p r e c i s e l y	t h e	same	words	t h a t	t h e	i n t e n t i o n	o f	each	I
I

was t o p r e v e n t F i l l i n g F a c t o r y t h e t r a n s f e r o f Gale from S t . Marys b luni t ions

s t a t i o n because	each	b e l i e v e d	t h a t	such	a	I
I

t r a n s f e r would reduce his o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f a t t r a c t i n g p e n a l t y

payments and b e l i e v e d h e had f i n a n c : i a l and domes t i c problems.

The Commissioner l a t e r s t a t e d ,

"The f a c t r emains , however, t h a t q u i t e c l e a r l y

t h e t h r e e o f f i c e r s [Henry, Tebbet and S c h n e i d e r s ]

s e r v i n g w i t h Gale t h a t even ing a l l made s t a t e m e n t s

d e s i g n e d t o d e s t r o y d i s c i p l i n e and good o r d e r a t

S t . Marys and t o t o t a l l y d i s c r e d i t t h e a u t h o r i t y

of t h e i r s e n i o r o f f i c e r , S e r g e a n t T a l b o t ."

H e conc luded ,

"There	may	b e n o t h i n g more	damaging t o good	o r d e r
t h a n	f a l s e s t a t e a e n t s which	a r e des igned	t o

a t t a c k i t s e x i s t e n c e , and a P o l i c e Force canno t

e x i s t a s a w e l l conducted o r g a n i s a t i o n i f adequa te

measures a r e n o t t aken t o show t h e s t r o n g e s t

p o s s i b l e d i s a p p r o v a l o f such behav iour . A s I

am unab le a p p r o p r i a t e t o d i s t i n g u i s h between punishments

t o any o f t h e t h r e e , a l t h o u g h a d m i t t e d l y

a h e a v i e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y must l i e on t h e o f f i c e r

nominal ly i n c h a r g e , I c o n s i d e r a p p r o p r i a t e

punishment i n each c a s e is d i s m i s s a l . "

I r e g r e t t h a t I f i n d myself unable t o a g r e e w i t h

t h e Commissioner t h a t t h e s t a t e m e n t s were des igned (emphasis

mine) t o d e s t r o y d i s c i p l i n e and good o r d e r a t S t . Marys and

* .

t o t o t a l l y d i s c r e d i t t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e i r s e n i o r o f f i c e r ,

S e r g e a n t T a l b o t .

I am, however, s a t i s f i e d 1 t h a t when C o n s t a b l e F i r s t

C l a s s Henry made t h e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t which he h a s a d m i t t e d

a n d was a n a c c e s s o r y a f t e r C o n s t a b l e G a l e ' s f a l s e e n t r y i n

t h e At tendance Book, he must have been aware t h a t t h o s e

a c t i o n s were, a t t h e l e a s t , l i k e l y t o d i s c r e d i t S e r g e a n t

I n h i s f i n d i n g s c o n c e r n i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t Henry,

t h e Commissioner s a i d : -

"I	. . . took	i n t o accoun t	t h e	f a c t t h a t no
adequa te	i n v e s t i g a t i o n had	been	made	a t t h e

t ime. However, t h e o n l y d i f f e r e n c e a t i m e l y

i n v e s t i g a t i o n would have made would have

been t o b r i n g t h e s e m a t t e r s t o a t t e n t i o n

more r a p i d l y and would n o t have had any

b e a r i n g	on	t h e	i s s u e s	now	under	c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
I	have	t h e r e f o r e	d i s c o u n t e d	t h e	l e n g t h	o f
t ime	between	t h e	o f f e n c e	and	i t s	d i s c o v e r y

a s hav ing any r e l e v a n c e t o punishment."

I a g r e e w i t h t h e g e n e r a l approach t a k e n by t h e

Commissioner and w i t h him c o n s i d e r t h a t t h e f a c t t h a t a n

i n a d e q u a t e i n v e s t i g a t i o n f a i l e d t o b r i n g t o l i g h t t h e

o f f e n c e s i s o f no r e l e v a n c e . However, when C o n s t a b l e Gale was

i n t e r v i e w e d on 10 November 1981 t h e s i t u a t i o n must h a v e - b e e n

c l e a r	t o	t h o s e	charged	w i t h	t h e	p r i n c i p a l	i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
N e v e r t h e l e s s	more	than	two	months	passed	b e f o r e	C o n s t a b l e

f i e n r y was a g a i n i n t e r v i e w e d on 21 J a n u a r y 1982. 'I'here was

t h e n	a	f u r t h e r d e l a y o f more	t h a n	f o u r months	b e f o r e	t h e
i n s t r u m e n t	i n i t i a t i n g p r o c e e d i n g s	was	s i g n e d	on	31 Nay	1982.

A f u r t h e r 10 days p a s s e d b e f o r e Cons tab le Henry was s e r v e d

w i t h t h e i n i t i a t i n g p r o c e s s .

During t h e p e r i o d from 10 November 1981 t o 10 J u n e

1982 t h e r e appears t o have been no a c t i o n t aken t o suspend

S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e Henry from h i s d u t i e s i n which he c o n t i n u e d

.

r e n d e r i n g , a p p a r e n t l y , s a t i s f a c t o r y s e r v i c e .

I n some c i r c u m s t a n c e s such a d e l a y on t h e p a r t o f

t h o s e	i n a u t h o r i t y might	o p e r a t e	p r o p e r l y	t o	reduce	t h e	p e n a l t y
which migh t b e	imposed.	I n s a y i n g t h i s	I	am	n o t t o be	t a k e n	a s

s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e d o c t r i n e of c o n d o n a t i o n may o p e r a t e i n

r e s p e c t o f a p o l i c e f o r c e . 'I'hat d o c t r i n e r e l a t e s p e c u l i a r l y

t o m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e .	See J o h n s t o n ' s	Appeal ,	(1961)	9	F.L.R.	31,
p a r t i c u l a r l y a t pp.40-5.

N e v e r t h e l e s s i n a d i s c i p l . i n e d s e r v i c e when f a c t s

a r e	uncovered	which	m a n i f e s t l y	w a r r a n t	t h e	b r i n g i n g	o f	c h a r g e s
i n	r e s p e c t	o f	d i s c i p l i n a r y	o f f e n c e s ,	such	c h a r g e s	ought	t o be

b r o u g h t a s prompt ly a s p o s s i b l e . I t seems t o me t h a t i t i s

1

u n n e c e s s a r y	t o add	t o t h e	punishment	which	a	P o l i c e O f f i c e r	I
l
g u i l t y o f	a	d i s c i p l i n a r y	o f f e n c e	is	p r o p e r l y	l i a b l e	t o and

~

may p r o p e r l y e x p e c t by imposing upon him t h e e x t r a s t r a i n o f

u n w a r r a n t e d d e l a y whi le p e r m i t t i n g him t o p e r f o r m h i s o r d i n a r y

d u t i e s . I n my o p i n i o n t h a t s t r a i n may p r o p e r l y be t a k e n i n t o 1

a c c o u n t i n c o n s i d e r i n g p e n a l t y .

I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e a p p r o p r i a t e p e n a l t y , I have

s t u d i o u s l y avo ided t a k i n g i n t o cons i d e r a t i o n t h e f a c t t h a t

C o n s t a b l e Henry subsequen t ly t o l d l i e s t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t i n g

o f f i c e r s and t h a t I found myself q u i t e unab le t o a c c e p t h i s

e v i d e n c e where i t d i f f e r e d from t h a t g i v e n by S e r g e a n t

I have a l s o t aken i n t o a c c o u n t t h e r e f e r e n c e s which

were t e n d e r e d and t h e c h a r a c t e r e v i d e n c e which was b rough t

l

on h i s b e h a l f .	I	am	t o d e a l w i t h him,	i n my	o p i n i o n ,	o n l y	!
l
I

f o r	t h e	o f f e n c e s	he	has	admi t t ed .	X	do	n o t	t h i n k	i t p r o p e r	I
l

t o t r e a t him a s one who has c o n s p i r e d w i t h o t h e r s f o r e i t h e r

l
l

o f t h e two d e s i g n s sugges ted by t h e Commissioner. But when

l l

a l l t h a t ,	i~	s a i d ,	I	t h i n k	t h e	p e n a l t y	o f	d i s m i s s a l	s h o u l d	l
I
l
s t a n d .	I	have	no	doubt	t h a t	C o n s t a b l e	Henry	a p p r e c i a t e d	and	1

acknowledged t h e g r a v i t y o f h i s o f f e n c e s when he t o l d S e r g e a n t

' I 'a lbot t h a t he f e l t " lousy" and would have r e s i g n e d b u t t h a t

he	had	a	f a m i l y i n need	o f	t h e money,	when	he	t a c i t l y a d m i t t e d
t h a t	he	had	m e t a p h o r i c a l l y	s t a b b e d	S e r g e a n t	T a l b o t	i n	t h e

back and when he t o l d S e r g e a n t T a l b o t t h a t he was s o r r y a b o u t

i

t h e Gale a f f a i r f o r which he "owe[d] [himJ one". l

No d i s c i p l i n e d f o r c e can o p e r a i e w i t h maximum

e f f i c i e n c y i f such d i s l o y a l t y a s S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e Henry

d i s p l a y e d towards h i s s u p e r i o r o f f i c e r i s t o l e r a t e d .

1

Having t a k e n i n t o accoun t a l l t h e m a t t e r s which

I t h i n k d e c i s i o n was a p p r o p r i a t e I am n o t pe r suaded t h a t t h e Commissioner 's 1

wrong. On t h e c o n t r a r y , a l t h o u g h I d i s a g r e e t o

some e x t e n t w i t h h i s r e a s o n s f o r t h a t d e c i s i o n , I a g r e e l

e n t i r e l y w i t h	i t	and	hence	d i s m i s s	t h e	a p p e a l .	l
~

Proceed ings were a l s o i n s t i t u t e d under R e g u l a t i o n

1 9 c h a r g i n g S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e Tebbet t h a t on 11 December 1980

i n a	r e p o r t	a d d r e s s e d	t o t h e O f f i c e r	i n Charge,	E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n ,	he	knowingly	made	i n t h e c o u r s e o f h i s d u t i e s	a

f a l s e w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t , namely,

"1 concluded my s h i f t a t 10.OOp.m. on t h e

1 0 t h December 1980, and upon c o n c l u s i o n o f

my d u t i e s I n o t e d t h a t P/S. C o n s t a b l e GALE.

R.	was	i n	a t t e n d a n c e	a t	t h e	P o l i c e	O f f i c e . "
H e ,	t o o ,	a d m i t t e d	t h e	t r u t h o f	t h e	f a c t s	a l l e g e d

t o c o n s t i t u t e	t h e	d i s c i p l i n a r y	o f f e n c e	and	a f t e r	t h e
p r e s c r i b e d p r o c e d u r e s	had	been	fol lowed	was	d e a l t w i t h	by

t h e Commissioner o f P o l i c e who d i smissed him from t h e

A u s t r a l i a n	F e d e r a l	P o l i c e	Force.	He,	t o o ,	h a s	a p p e a l e d	on
t h e	ground	t h a t	t h e	p e n a l t y	imposed	i s	t o o	s e v e r e .

I am s a t i s f i e d on t h e ba lance o f p r o b a b i l i t i e s t h a t

a t some 'tilhe which I c a n n o t p r e c i s e l y i d e n t i f y b u t which was

p r o b a b l y s h o r t l y b e f o r e h e was due t o commence h i s s h i f t on

11 December 1980, S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e Tebbet became aware t h a t

S e r g e a n t T a l b o t had a r r i v e d a t t h e S t a t i o n t h e e v e n i n g

b e f o r e and had spoken t o C o n s t a b l e Gale t o a d v i s e him t h a t

h e knew t h a t h e had been l a t e f o r work and t h a t he though t

t h a t he had been d r i n k i n g and a c t i n g i r r e s p o n s i b l y .

I am s a t i s f i e d , a g a i n on t h e b a l a n c e o f p r o b a b i l i t i e s ,

t h a t S e n i o r C o n s t a b l e Tebbet d i s c u s s e d t h e m a t t e r w i t h

C o n s t a b l e Ga le , more p robab ly t h a n n o t by t e l ephone . l

I am s a t i s f i e d o f two o t h e r m a t t e r s . lhey a r e : - l

(a ) t h a t S e n i o r Cons tab le Tebbet had some c o n s u l t a t i o n

l

w i t h	C o n s t a b l e	S c h n e i d e r s	b e f o r e	he	comple ted	h i s
r e p o r t	because	p a s s a g e s	i n	t h e i r	r e p o r t s	c o i n c i d e

l

s o n e a r l y a s t o make i t imposs ib le t h a t t h a t

o c c u r r e d	o t h e r	t h a n	a s	a	r e s u l t	of	c o n s u l t a t i o n ;	l
and

[b) t h a t S e n i o r Cons tab le Tebbet rang Cons tab le F i r s t

C l a s s Henry and t o l d him t h a t he proposed t o s a y

t h a t h e had s e e n Gale a t t h e S t a t i o n a t 10 o ' c l o c k .

I p r e f e r Tebbe t ' s v e r s i o n o f t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n t o

t h a t g i v e n by Henry. I t i s n e v e r t h e l e s s c l e a r t h a t when

T e b b e t spoke t o Henry he e x p e c t e d t h a t Henry would a c t ,

f o l l o w i n g t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , i n such a way t h a t t h e v e r s i o n s

g i v e n by b o t h c o n c e r n i n g G a l e ' s p r e s e n c e a t 10 p.m. t h e

n i g h t b e f o r e would be t h e same.

The use o f t h e word "conspi racy" seems t o have

a r i s e n a s a r e s u l t o f something S e n i o r Constable Tebbet s a i d

i n h i s f i r s t i n t e r v i e w w i t h Chie f I n s p e c t o r Burrows and Ac t ing

I n s p e c t o r Halmarick. He s a i d ,

"1 d i d n ' t t h e o t h e r members c o n s p i r e w i t h o t h e r members r e g a r d i n g

' t h e r e p o r t . "

He was r e g a r d i n g t h e n asked who t o l d him t h a t t h e r e was any q u e s t i o n

c o n s p i r a c y and r e p l i e d ,

"No one , b u t I b e l i e v e t h a t i f I had i n s t r u c t e d

i n what t o s u b m i t i n t h e i r

r e p o r t s ... t h a t t h i s c o u l d be c o n s t r u e d a s a

c o n s p i r a c y . 'l

I n t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t t h e r e a f t e r

t h e i n v e s t i g a t i n g o f f i c e r s seem t o have had i t f i r m l y f i x e d

i n t h e i r minds t h a t t h e r e was a c o n s p i r a c y and t h i s view seems

t o have been adopted by t h e Commissioner. What is i m p o r t a n t

t o remember i s t h a t none o f t h e a p p e l l a n t s was charged w i t h

c o n s p i r a c y .	Had	t h e y	been	charged w i t h	and	found	g u i l t y o f
a	d i s c i p l i n a r y o f f e n c e	i n v o l v i n g	some	form	o f	c o n s p i r a c y	my

approach may w e l l have been d i f f e r e n t . But I am bound t o

d e a l o n l y w i t h t h e c h a r g e s t o which e a c h h a s p l e a d e d g u i l t y

and t o c o n s i d e r t h e a p p e a l s i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e p l e a s and

t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c i rcumstances which mzy p r o p e r l y be t a k e n

i n t o accoun t .

There i s , i n my view, no need f o r m e t o c o n s i d e r

w h e t h e r t h e r e was any a c t u a l c o n s p i r a c y a s t h a t word i s

p r o p e r l y t o be unders tood. I am, however, s a t i s f i e d t h a t

T e b b e t c o n s u l t e d w i t h each o f Gale , S c h n e i d e r s and Henry

a b o u t t h e r e p o r t which he was asked t o submi t .

I am a l s o s a t i s f i e d t h a t S e n i o r Constable Tebbet

was q u i t e unaware t h a t S e r g e a n t T a l b o t had been t o l d by

C o n s t a b l e F i r s t C l a s s Henry what t h e t r u e s i t u a t i o n was

c o n c e r n i n g	Ga le ' s	l a t e	a t t e n d a n c e	and	consequen t ly	c o u l d	n o t
have	had	i n mind	a t t h e	r e l e v a n t	time	a l l t h e	f o r e s e e a b l e
consequences	t o S e r g e a n t	'Talbot	and	h i s s t a n d i n g	i n	t h e	Force.

F i n a l l y , t h e ev idence s a t i s f i e s me t h a t S e n i o r

~ o n s t a b l ' e ' f e b b e t t s motive i n making t h e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t was

m e r e l y t o assist Cons tab le Gale. In t h i s I f i n d t h a t he

a c t e d o u t of a mistaken sense o f k indness , t h a t he f o o l i s h l y

a l lowed h i s h e a r t t o r u l e h i s head and t h a t he gave no

adequate cons ide ra t ion t o t he l i k e l y consequences. Had he

done s o , I am s a t i s f i e d he would n o t have ac t ed as he d id .

He was no t i n t e rv i ewed dur ing the course of t h e

f i r s t f r u i t l e s s i n v e s t i g a t i o n . Indeed, i t is p o s s i b l e he

d i d no t know t h a t it was be ing c a r r i e d ou t al though by

October 1981 he c e r t a i n l y knew because i n h i s f i r s t r eco rd

of i n t e rv i ew he s t a t e d t h a t he be l i eved what had happened

t o be "an unfor tuna te s i t u a t i o n which has brought d i s c r e d i t

t o n o t only t he people d i r e c t l y involved [ inc lud ing h i m s e l f ] ,

b u t a l s o the o f f i c e r s t h a t handled the i nqu i ry i n t he f i r s t

ins tance" . By the time t h e i n t e r v i e w wi th him o f 22 October 1981 took p l ace he had had much time t o r e f l e c t on the whole

s o r r y i n c i d e n t and, i n my op in ion , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i t c o r r e c t l y .

I n h i s favour i t may be s a i d t h a t he d i d n o t

p e r s i s t w i th h i s fa lsehood.	When	he was	f i r s t asked	i n
October	1981 whether h i s s t a t emen t was	t r u e he	admit ted	i t s
u n t r u t h .

The t h r e e m a t t e r s which, i n my opin ion , I ought t o

t a k e i n t o account i n a s s e s s i n g t h e s e r iousnes s o f Sen ior

Cons tab le Tebbe t l s b reach o f d i s c i p l i n e are : -

(a ) t h e f a l s e s t a t emen t made by him a s an N.C.O.:

(b) t h a t he should have r e a l i s e d a s the s e n i o r

N.C.O. o f the f o u r o f f i c e r s concerned t h a t

knowledge of h i s proposed a c t i o n was l i k e l y t o

persuade t h e o t h e r t h r e e t o a s i m i l a r course

o r t o p e r s i s t i n such a course i f they were

,	gl ready contemplat ing i t ; and
(c)	t h a t he should have r e a l i s e d t h a t he owed a
p a r t i c u l a r du ty t o d i s p l a y i n t e g r i t y a s an

example t o Constable Schne iders who was a

member o f h i s s h i f t f o r whom he was d i r e c t l y

r e s p o n s i b l e and who was, r e l a t i v e l y speak ing ,

n o t much more than a r e c r u i t .

Evidence o f t hose m a t t e r s w i t h o u t more would, I

t h i n k ,	w a r r a n t	S e n i o r	Constable	Tebbe t l s	d i s m i s s a l	from	t h e
Force.

Appointed i n June 1974, Sen io r Cons t ab l e Tebbet

had had f o r s i x and a h a l f y e a r s an unblemished r eco rd .

H e has produced r e f e r ences which t e s t i f y t o h i s

g e n e r a l r e l i a b i l i t y and i n t e g r i t y . The r e f e r e e s were aware

o f t h e g e n e r a l n a t u r e of t h e charge a g a i n s t S e n i o r Cons tab le

l 'ebbet. H e ha s a c t e d i n t h e rank o f Se rgean t and ha s been

a s s e s s e d as a b l e t o cope w i th h i s p r e s e n t d u t i e s and as

hav ing many q u a l i t i e s which would recommend him f o r h i g h e r

rank . H e h a s performed h i s d u t i e s competent ly d e s p i t e t h e

s t r a i n	o f	w a i t i n g .
I n s p e c t o r Casey gave f avou rab l e ev idence on h i s

b e h a l f .	H e was	asked whether	he would	ma in t a in	h i s op in ion
of	S e n i o r Cons tab le	Tebbet	i f he knew	t h a t he had	consp i r ed

w i t h a j u n i o r c o n s t a b l e and a s e n i o r c o n s t a b l e t o undermine

t h e a u t h o r i t y o f a s e n i o r s e rgean t . No q u e s t i o n whether he

had s o c o n s p i r e d was p u t t o S e n i o r Cons tab le Tebbet and I

do n o t , f o r t h e r e a sons i n d i c a t e d above, b e l i e v e t h a t he

d i d s o c o n s p i r e . The v a l i d i t y o f I n s p e c t o r Casey's op in ion

t h e r e f o r e	remains .
I have had t h e advantage of h e a r i n g S e n i o r Constable

Tebbe t g i v e ev idence .

I t a k e I n a l l t h e c i rcumstances i n t o account t h e s t r a i n o f t h e d e l a y b e f o r e

' C

t h e c h a r g e p e n a l t y shou ld be was p r e f e r r e d .

I t h i n k t h e p rope r course

i s t o uphold t h e appea l bu t I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t a s u b s t a n t i a l

imposed t o mark what i n a l l t h e c i rcumstances

i s , i n my o p i n i o n , t h e a p p r o p r i a t e d i s a p p r o v a l o f t h e

d i s c i p l i n a r y o f f e n c e which Sen ior Cons tab le Tebbet committed.

I n s u b s t i t u t i o n f o r t h e p e n a l t y o f d i s m i s s a l ,

t h e r e f o r e , I o r d e r t h a t Sen io r Constable Tebbet be reduced

i n rank t o t h a t o f Constable F i r s t C l a s s w i t h a grade e q u i v a l e n t

t o t h a t o f a Cons tab le F i r s t Class who h a s j u s t completed one

y e a r	o f	s e r v i c e	i n	t h a t	rank.	1
l

Cons tab le Schneiders was charged t h a t on 11 December

i

1980 i n a r e p o r t o f t h a t d a t e addressed t o t h e O f f i c e r i n Charge,

E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , he knowingly made i n t h e cou r se o f h i s d u t i e s

a f a l s e w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t , namely,

" J u s t b e f o r e I was due t o l e a v e a t 10.00 p.m.

f o r my h o u r l y t o u r o f t h e a r e a , I n o t e d t h a t

P.S. Cons tab le GALE. R. was i n a t t e n d a n c e a t

t h e P o l i c e Off ice ."

H e , t o o , p leaded g u i l t y and a g a i n a f t e r t h e a p p r o p r i a t e

p rocedu re s had been fol lowed was d i smissed from t h e Force by

t h e Commissioner. He, t o o , appea l s on t h e ground t h a t t h e

p e n a l t y imposed was unduly severe .

When f i r s t in te rv iewed on 2 2 Oc tober 1981, Constable

Schne ide r s p e r s i s t e d i n say ing t h a t h i s w r i t t e n r e p o r t o f

11 December 1980 was t r u e . Even tua l ly , he t o o was conf ron ted

on 2 1 J anua ry 1982 w i t h t he record of t h e i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h e

former Cons tab le Gale. I t was sugges ted t o him du r ing t h e

c o u r s e o f t h e second i n t e r v i e w t h a t t h e r e p o r t s which were

submi t t ed	were	submi t t ed	t o r i d i c u l e	Se rgean t	Ta lbo t	and were
done	w i t h	c o l l u s i o n .	As	I	unders tand h i s ev idence he	admi t ted

t h e c o l l u s i o n b u t den i ed t h a t t h e purpose o f t h e r e p o r t was t o

r i d i c u l e Se rgean t Ta lbo t .

I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h a t d e n i a l was t r u e . I t h ink

t h a t Constable Schne iders ' s o l e purpose was t o keep a f e l l ow

o f f i c e r o u t o f t roub le . He d i d n o t a p p r e c i a t e t he p o s s i b l e

d i f f i c u l t i e s which h i s f a l s e r e p o r t might	cause.	I	am
s a t i s f i e d t h a t he	d i d n o t	know	t h a t Sen ior Constable Henry

had t o l d Sergeant Ta lbo t what was the t r u e p o s i t i o n r ega rd ing

Constable Gale ' s l a t e a r r i v a l on duty on t h e evening o f

10 December 1980. I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t Constable Schne iders

was n o t in te rv iewed d u r i n g the course of t h e f irst f r u i t l e s s

i n q u i r y .

I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t 'Constable Schneiders l i e d t o

Chief In spec to r Burrows and Acting Inspec to r Halmarick when

they in te rv iewed him f irst i n October 1981 and many o f

h i s answers be fo re me were u n s a t i s f a c t o r y , t o s a y t h e l e a s t .

However, I l eave these matters s t u d i o u s l y o u t o f account a s

I t h i n k I am bound t o do. R. v . Richmond, [l9201 V.L.R. 9

and R. v. Smith, (1946) 6 3 W.N. (N.S.W.) 231.

Taking i n t o account a l l t he ma t t e r s p l aced b e f o r e

l

m e	i n c l u d i n g ' the	r e f e r e n c e s	tendered	on	beha l f	of	Constable
Schne ide r s ,	I	am	s a t i s f i e d t h a t	t h e pena l ty	o f	d i s m i s s a l	was

t o o seve re . I t ake i n t o account p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e f a c t t h a t

l

he had been a p o l i c e o f f i c e r f o r onlly a few months a t t h e t ime

!

o f t h e o f f ence and t h a t he was e n t i t l e d t o have rece ived f i r m

l l

guidance from h i s s u p e r i o r o f f i c e r wi th which, a s I do n o t

doubt , he would never have made the f a l s e r e p o r t . I t h ink

t h a t i n a l l t he c i rcumstances t he proper pena l ty i s t h a t

Cons tab le Schneiders shou ld be reduced t o t he rank of

Cons tab le wi th one completed y e a r ' s s e r v i c e i n t h a t rank.