The Gold Coast Bulletin

Hurley fined for wild chase

Ex-cop also banned from driving for six months

- ALEXANDRIA UTTING alexandria.utting@news.com.au

EX-COP Chris Hurley is not allowed behind the wheel for six months after being convicted of dangerous driving during a wild police chase.

The controvers­ial former Senior-Sergeant was yesterday found guilty of two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle following a twoday trial in the Southport Magistrate­s Court.

The charges related to the May 2015 pursuit of two fugi- tives who had robbed a taxi driver with a tomahawk about 19 hours earlier.

The court found Hurley had driven dangerousl­y in Pacific Pines, without lights or sirens, and caused several motorists to swerve out of the way.

Magistrate Barry Cosgrove found Hurley continued the chase despite being ordered by police to “pull back”. He rammed the getaway car with a pursuit interventi­on technique. The action was not part of police policy, the court was told.

Hurley, who medically retired this year from the Queensland Police Service (QPS), was fined a total of $800 for the offences.

He was disqualifi­ed from driving for six months but had no conviction recorded.

In sentencing, Mr Cosgrove said he took into account Hurley’s “considerab­le” service to the QPS. He accepted Hurley had a “reputation” and widely publicised past.

“Mr Hurley, one would have to have lived under a rock in the State of Queensland not to know that you have somewhat of a reputation,” Mr Cosgrove said. “My decision is not based upon that reputation ...”

The former Coast duty officer was in 2007 acquitted of a Palm Island death-in-custody and last year convicted of assaulting a Robina motorist.

Mr Cosgrove conceded police are often placed in “difficult positions”.

“Even though I have found you guilty ... police officers are obviously placed in difficult positions from time to time ... and if they make the wrong call they may well expose themselves to criminal sanctions.”

Another police officer, Senior-Constable Barry Wellington, has been committed to face trial over the pursuit.

 ??  ?? Former cop Chris Hurley, fined.
Former cop Chris Hurley, fined.

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