Officer who lied for mate is dismissed
A DISGRACED Cairns senior constable who lied to the Crime and Corruption Commission about his partner’s actions has been dismissed from the police service.
Senior Constable Bret Chadwick was exposed to disciplinary action by the Queensland Police Service when he lied to investigators about what happened in a Sheridan St alley in April 2016.
A QPS spokesman this week said a “56-year old senior constable from the Northern Region” had been dismissed.
“The officer was subject of a disciplinary hearing in relation to misconduct involving untruthfulness, destroying evidence, making a false statement and failing to treat others with respect and dignity.”
However, a QPS spokesman refused to name Chadwick, saying “we don’t release names; never have and never will.”
But the Cairns Post that Chadwick sacked officer.
In a Cairns District Court trial last year, then Sen-Const Chadwick said “lies and misrepresentations” were told about what he saw occur between his partner Const Matt McKinnar and British backpacker Leigh Baker.
The court heard the Englishman was arrested by SenConst Chadwick after abusing security staff outside Gilligan’s nightclub on April 16.
He fled, hid in the alleyway and Const McKinnar pursued on foot.
The pair became involved in an altercation in the dark alley, with Mr Baker suffering breaks to his jaw, cheek and eye socket.
In court it was revealed that Sen-Constable Chadwick was granted indemnity by the Attorney-General for the lies in understands is the NO ACTION: Constable Matt McKinnar was found not guilty. return for his truthful testimony. The lies included signed statements and his police notebook, which recorded what he saw happen in the Sheridan St alley.
“I was panicking, just wasn’t thinking straight,” he said in September last year. “I just thought I’d say I saw nothing.”
However, the AG’s indemnity did not cover disciplinary action by the QPS.
Chadwick’s emotional testimony in the four-day trial left him close to breaking down.
He told the court he saw Const McKinnar punch Mr Baker five times and said the backpacker had not resisted arrest.
Const McKinnar claimed he had acted in self-defence and was found not guilty.
In September 2017 Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the constable would face disciplinary proceedings.
Queensland Police yesterday confirmed that Const McKinnar’s stand-down was revoked on February 8 and he was still employed by the QPS, but for privacy reasons would not reveal his current posting.
Far North police union representative Marty Bristow has been asked for comment.
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