from March 2007
Just who are the Real Villains?

This list was originally attached to the story Police Anger Over Ned Kelly Logo Proposal (see below) but the links got so long it was time to give it a section on its own! It's not that we want to be seen as police knockers, because if it wasn't for all the decent cops out there we'd be living in a hell hole similar to Iraq. But when the Victorian Chief Police Commissioner, Christine Nixon bangs on about how evil Ned Kelly was, it's hard to take her seriously. Especially when we keep reading stories like the examples below.

"...it was a shame we Australians celebrate a bushranger...Ned murdered people and may have murdered many more..."
Victorian Chief Police Commissioner Christine Nixon, June 27, 2002

All we want is for the Victorian Police to hand over their "war trophy" of Steve Hart's armour to either the Victorian Museum or State Library. Despite a wall of silence it was, afterall, police bullets which caused the death of plate layer Martin Cherry and a child named Johnny Jones. Furthermore, Jane Jones was wounded in the forehead (later to die), Michael Reardon was wounded in the shoulder, and William Metcalf was wounded in the eye. But it seems some coppers are a law unto themselves:

Former detective on drugs, kill-threat charges AAP 18/03/03
Health blast over police hold cells Chee Chee Leung 18/03/03
Ex-drug squad head linked to speed sales Peter Gregory 01/03/05
Too fast, but cops escape the fine Jason Dowling 08/04/07
Top Officer On Bash Charge Nick McKenzie and Andrea Petrie 15/05/07
Watchdog Lashes Mullett Meddling Nick McKenzie 15/05/07
Trial for policeman on booze-bus bribery charge Andrea Petrie 29/05/07
Police officers to contest assault charge Steve Butcher30/05/07
Geelong Cop 'lobbied' for Mate Nick McKenzie & Royce Millar 04/06/07
Stand-off on drug testing of police John Silvester 04/06/07
Embarrassed cops admit ticket blunder Ari Sharp 20/07/07
Tanner twist: police may face charges Seamus Bradley 12/08/07
Police hero accused of bullying Andrea Petrie 29/08/07
Police to exhume cold-case body Reko Rennie 29/08/07
Death riddle grave opens Mark Buttler 29/08/07
Ex-policewoman sues 'bullies' Kate Hagan 30/08/07
New leads in body mystery Reko Rennie 31/08/07
'Kit Walker' affair under new scrutiny Nick McKenzie 07/09/07
The curious case of a cyclist's life destroyed Wood & Moynihan 12/09/07
Police exempt on inquest evidence Julia Medew 12/09/07
Police tied to underworld hit Nick McKenzie 14/09/07
Brumby rules out corruption probe AAP 14/09/07
Nixon 'annoyed' at story Reko Rennie 14/09/07
Officer linked to underworld hit suspended Turnbull & Robert 14/09/07
Police chiefs warned of rogue cops Nick McKenzie 15/09/07
Officer 'railed' against anti-corruption body Nick McKenzie 15/09/07
Victoria needs a permanent fighter Bob Falconer 15/09/07
A crime story that needs another ending Editorial 15/09/07
The high cost of her justice — his livelihood AAP 16/09/07
Police watchdog needs more power Nick McKenzie 17/09/07
A fine mess Lawrence Money 24/09/07
Conwoman's lover on gun charges Reko Rennie 25/09/07
Police accused of race attacks on Africans Liz Porter 30/09/07
Policeman accused of robbery Chris Evans 01/10/07
Suspended policeman left victim 'traumatised' Julia Medew 02/10/07
Corrupt cops in 'syndicates' AAP 10/10/07
Somali youth to sue police over 'unprovoked' attack Liz Porter 21/10/07
Police union paid $4 million to defend bent cops Gary Hughes 29/10/07
Call for police watchdog revamp Nick McKenzie 02/11/07
Charges loom on mystery death of lonely Hughie Gary Tippet 04/11/07
Ex-cop Tanner blasts Nixon Mario Xuereb 09/11/07
Top cop's 'jealous' rant Reko Rennie 09/11/07
Ashby's turn in hot seat Roger Franklin 09/11/07
Top officer linked to corruption scandal Dan Oakes 09/11/07

"...Mr Ashby's resignation came during another day of explosive allegations at the corruption inquiry, as he and police media director Stephen Linnell were caught on secretly recorded phone calls allegedly plotting to undermine this week's hearings. Both men could face criminal charges, and possibly jail..."
from 'Nixon: I feel betrayed'

Top cop quits after admitting conspiracy Catherine Best 09/11/07
Ashby quits, Linnell suspended over OPI probe Ross, Moor, Pinkney, Pilcher 09/11/07
The secret police tapes - day 2 OPI Transcript 09/11/07
Top cop Ashby resigns AAP, with Reko Rennie  10/11/07
Nixon: 'I feel betrayed' Dan Oakes and Andrea Petrie 10/11/07
Panic and fear as the penny drops for two close confidants Simon Mann 10/11/07

"...What he didn't know then, but soon found out, was that the man who king-hit him that night was Senior Detective Glenn Saunders, then of the armed robbery squad. What he would also find out was that Saunders' big, cold-eyed mate was another armed robbery detective, Paul Mullett. Later, Saunders would leave the force in disgrace after a drug corruption scandal. Mullett would survive and thrive to become a senior sergeant — and head of the Victoria Police Association, one of the highest-paid union bosses in Australia..."
from Might, muscle and Mullett - the heavy hand of Victoria's most powerful cop

End of a top officer's life in the force John Silvester 10/11/07
Good cop, bad cop and 5 lost virtues Roger Franklin 10/11/07
Fist and cuffs: 'He's never been afraid of an angry man' Andrew Rule 11/11/07
Mullett - the heavy hand of Victoria's most powerful cop Andrew Rule 11/11/07
Fallen rival's barbs fail to scar deputy commissioner Peter Munro 11/11/07
Director, Ashby not home Mark Russell 11/11/07
Minister backs Nixon Liam Houlihan 11/11/07
Police integrity cops a hiding Brendan Donohoe 11/11/07
Second senior officer quits police Dan Oakes 12/11/07
Phone bugs stun police union chief Paul Mullett Keith Moor 15/11/07
Premier issues gag on Police Association's Paul Mullett Ashley Gardiner 16/11/07
Mullett: 'I'm not a crook' Keith Moor 16/11/07
What now? Keith Moor 16/11/07
Probe raises a few questions Roger Franklin 16/11/07
Clash of loyalties ahead for Victoria's police force Nick McKenzie 17/11/07
Time bomb threatens to blow the force apart John Silvester 17/11/07
Mullett locked out John Silvester and Andrea Petrie 17/11/07
Rats among the ranks John Silvester 17/11/07
Union head banned from police buildings AAP 17/11/07
Police bosses at war as Paul Mullett stands firm Moor, Buttler and Wilkinson 17/11/07
Police Association boss Mullett career is on the line Mark Buttler 17/11/07
Mullett to fight on AAP 17/11/07
Tapped calls put spotlight on police justice John Silvester 10/12/07
Police 'hindered' race probe Liz Porter 23/12/07
Corrupt cop ordered to repay $68k of his super Gary Hughes 23/12/07
Dozens of police under investigation Andrea Petrie 15/01/08
Greek fans threaten legal action over spray Doherty, Medew and Petrie 17/01/08
'What were the police thinking?' Peter Katsambanis 17/01/08
Rape charge police officer bailed AAP 18/01/08
Bikie link to police staffer on drug charges Andrew Rule and Dan Oakes 20/01/08
Bullying in police training Nick McKenzie 04/02/08
Corruption charge tip for Mullett Smithers, Milovanovic and Cooke 05/02/08
Cop in 'tranny hooker sex' relationships staff writer 06/02/08

"...The website also reported that one male officer was believed to have been accused of having a sexual relationship with a transvestite prostitute and there may be “incriminating” pictures that could “embarrass” the police force..."
from Cop in 'tranny hooker sex' relationships

Watchdog probing bayside officers Nick McKenzie 07/02/08
Defiant Ashby vows to fight if charges are laid against him Ari Sharp 08/02/08
Plot to oust police chief for 'puppet' Nick McKenzie and Dan Oakes 08/02/08
Trio will be charged: police chief Andrea Petrie 09/02/08
Cop offered fine relief for sexual favours AAP 11/02/08
Nixon hid police cuts, says former top cop Keith Moor 19/02/08
Detectives admit assaulting suspect Staff reporter 5/02/08
OPI monitor slams plan to cut scrutiny Shiel and McKenzie 28/02/08
Videoed police assault 'out of character' Gary Hughes 01/03/08
Ex cops may face jail term in community for bashing suspect AAP 12/03/08
Ex-cops avoid jail Sarah-Jane Collins 13/03/08
Police to face scrutiny over brushes with outlaws Dan Oakes 13/03/08
'Sad' police bullying claim dismissed Kate Hagan 15/03/08
Mullett takes OPI protest to streets Adrian Lowe 20/03/08
Top cop reveals link to gangster Gary Hughes 20/03/08
Hit victim's details accessed at ATO Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie 26/03/08
How a tax man was brought down by his links to Gatto Baker and McKenzie 26/03/08
John De Jong paid out for drug-drive fiasco Norrie Ross 28/03/08
Action against murder-probe officer stymied John Silvester 07/04/08
Embattled Mullett emerges to rally police union Andrea Petrie 09/04/08
Boys in blue say ditch 'small, scared' girls Keith Moor 09/04/08
Detective blasts senior police over 'squabbles' Dan Oakes 18/04/08
Cop union boss is a big bully - police Keith Moor 19/04/08
Police alter tack on criminal ties Andrea Petrie 19/04/08

I started researching this seemingly endless (and quite disturbing) list less than a year ago and while it's only based on the Victorian police it appears to get longer every week! I'm sure this page could end up eating my entire web site if I gave it a chance, but I'm loath to spend so much time on this crap. Instead if you want an extra fill of dodgy coppers check out:

Cops In Crisis The Herald Sun

31 March 2007
Police Anger Over Ned Kelly Logo Proposal
Paul Anderson
source: news.com.au

Current and former veteran police officers are offended that bushranger Ned Kelly was suggested as the emblem for a taskforce that investigates the state's most dangerous armed criminals. Sources said a suggestion the new armed crimes taskforce take on a logo of Kelly - a bank robber who killed a policeman - was insulting to former armed offenders squad detectives and the force in general. The armed crimes taskforce has replaced the armed offenders squad as part of the major crime management model. The Herald Sun believes the logo was suggested in good faith because Kelly was a notorious bushranger captured by police at Glenrowan in 1880. But former armed robbery squad stalwart Ray Watson, instrumental in the capture of notorious bandits during the violent 1980s and early '90s, said the mere suggestion of using a Ned Kelly image was shameful.

"I'm outraged about it," Mr Watson said. "Does that mean Carl Williams is going to be considered as a squad emblem in the future? "Ned Kelly is iconic, but certainly not a hero. "That emblem idea would have revered the man, not the taskforce." One current officer said: "It's common knowledge that former members of the armed offenders squad and the old armed robbery squad were disgusted with the idea of the Ned Kelly emblem and what it represented." Many armed robbery squad detectives were close friends with Sgt Gary Silk, who with Sen-Constable Rod Miller, was shot dead by two bandits in 1998. The Ned Kelly idea, floated late last year, has been rejected. "I can say that a logo containing any reference or image related to Ned Kelly would definitely not be considered," police spokesman Sgt David Spencer said.

Interesting proposal from someone inside the force who can obviously see the irony of the situation. I particularly love this part of the report by Paul Anderson, "...take on a logo of Kelly - a bank robber who killed a policeman - was insulting to former armed offenders squad detectives and the force in general." Maybe instead of Ned Kelly they could use Johnny Jones, the 12 year old boy shot dead by police during the Glenrowan siege. Or even Martin Cherry, another victim of indiscriminate firing by the police? Then again maybe not, as the police don't like talking about things like that. You see history is suppose to be written by the victors which is why Ned's story will always be a thorn in the side of authority. My question to Christine is that if Ned was such a evil doer why keep Steve Hart's armour? Does Nixon see the armour as some sort of war trophy? Why not hand it over to the State Library or the National Museum so the general public can at least view it (without having to walk through metal detectors)?

Further reading: Real Villains