CITY’S TOP COP IN NEW CCC PROBE
Corruption watchdog told it can look into Brian Codd’s handling of misconduct case
THE Crime and Corruption Commission will review a decision by the Coast’s top cop not to pursue misconduct charges against an officer who allegedly leaked data to a bikie. The alleged offence, reviewed by Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd, involves providing police photos after a motorbike theft at Beenleigh in 2014. A tribunal has since been told the family of the defendant feared for its safety. Assistant Commissioner Codd yesterday said he made the decision at a disciplinary hearing in 2016 based on the evidence he had at the time.
THE decision by the Gold Coast’s top cop not to pursue misconduct charges against an officer who allegedly leaked confidential data to a bikie has been successfully challenged by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
The alleged offence, reviewed by Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd, involves providing confidential police photos to a bikie over the theft of a Harley Davidson motorbike at Beenleigh in 2014.
The CCC has been successful in getting new evidence admitted to reopen the case.
The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal also ruled the CCC could review Assistant Commissioner Codd’s handling of the case in a disciplinary hearing two years after the theft.
Detective Sergeant Dean Godfrey has been accused of providing details of the motorcycle thief to a bikie gang member, leaving the family of the defendant fearing for their safety.
The CCC will now consider an affidavit sworn by Det Sgt Godfrey in May 2014.
“The motorcycle was stolen from an alleged member of a (named criminal motorcycle gang),” the affidavit reads.
“The defendant’s relatives, with whom he lived were aware the motorcycle was stolen from the (criminal motorcycle gang) member and are in further fear of retribution as a result of the defendant’s offending.”
Assistant Commissioner Codd yesterday told the Bulletin he was unaware of Det Sgt Godfrey’s affidavit.
“I made the decision properly and regarding the evidence before me at the time,” he said.
“If there is additional evidence, that should be considered.”
The CCC had to apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal to have the evidence allowed as a part of new investigations.
Det Sgt Godfrey told the tribunal his affidavit was irrelevant because it related to information provided by the defendant’s family, not what he knew at the time.
The QCAT decision comes after 15 officers were this week referred by the CCC for internal investigations for alleged bullying and the fudging of crime data.
Neither Assistant Commissioner Codd or Det Sgt Godfrey were among those referred by the CCC.
Assistant Commissioner Codd yesterday said the matter before QCAT was over twoand-a-half years old and not related to the Gold Coast.
“The Gold Coast matters are not new and have been previously reported on over the last 18 months,” he said.
The CCC declined to comment as the matter is still before the tribunal.