Internal police reports obtained by The Canberra Times reveal serious concerns about an ACT-based employee who was arrested for stalking.
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The reports, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, described the male employee's stalking behaviour and subsequent conviction as "reprehensible".
Police were asked to provide documents relating to "AFP employees based in the ACT who currently hold criminal convictions", suggesting the man may have kept his job despite the conviction.
A spokesman for ACT Policing would not comment on whether he was still employed.
The documents, dating back to July 2015, included a redacted report by the AFP's professional standards unit.
Key findings of the report included:
- That the employee had also been served with a domestic violence order;
- He was arrested at Tuggeranong police station and pleaded guilty before the ACT Magistrates Court;
- That the AFP's national manager of human resources immediately suspended him following his arrest;
- That he received a 12-month good behaviour bond after he was convicted of stalking.
The author of the professional standards report described the episode as "unacceptable, inappropriate and criminal by nature".
"[The employee's] actions are reprehensible and given community expectation only one decision in my view can be made with regards to any sanction to be applied," the author noted.
"[The employee] is currently on suspension."
The report said there was potential for the episode to cause significant reputational damage to the police force.
However, it also referenced the existence of "considerable evidence" in mitigation of the employee's actions.
"I have noted that [the employee] pled guilty on his first appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court, taking full responsibility for his actions," the report said.
"And by his decision [he] saved considerable embarrassment for his family and the AFP."
It was recommended that the national manager of human resources consider the employment suitability of the convicted employee.
It is not known what, if any, further action was taken.
The documents released by the AFP also described the case of an AFP employee who escaped conviction after she pleaded guilty to drink driving.
The off-duty employee registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.065 grams of alcohol per 210 litres of breath. The legal limit is 0.05 grams of alcohol.
"The magistrate found the offence proven but did not record a conviction or impose any fines or penalties," a professional standards report from January 2015 noted.
"She also retained her driver's licence."
The report continued: "[She] is to be formally counselled and ... is to be advised that any subsequent offence of this nature would render her likely to employment suitability considerations."
An ACT Policing spokesman said the police force followed a "comprehensive and robust" professional standards process.
"The sanctions for established matters can range from formal counselling to termination of employment," he said.
"A number of considerations are taken into account when making these decisions.
"As a result of privacy provisions, the AFP is not able to provide further comment on the outcomes of the matters described in the freedom of information release."
