Former Gold Coast cop and whistleblower Rick Flori is calling for action over allegations a senior police officer took illegal disciplinary action against him for leaking footage of a police bashing in 2012.
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The former Queensland police sergeant was found not guilty of misconduct on Wednesday after he leaked footage of officers bashing a handcuffed man at a Gold Coast station basement in January 2012.
The footage was run by News Corp that year and an internal investigation led to a search of Mr Flori’s home where the CCTV vision was found on an SD card.
He said he had released the footage of Noa Begic's arrest in 2012 to cast a spotlight on illegal practices within the police force.
In August 2012, Mr Flori was told by the Ethical Standards Command his reported allegation of misconduct against a member of the Queensland Police Service had been classified as a public interest disclosure, which entitled him to certain legal privilege, protection and rights of compensation.
In July 2013, Mr Flori was slapped with a disciplinary hearing notice by a senior police officer into his conduct in accessing and releasing the CCTV footage.
Mr Flori claims the notice was an indictable offence under the Public Disclosure Act, which provides immunity from civil or criminal liability, including disciplinary action, for making a disclosure.
On May 8, 2015, the notice was taken before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and settled, with Mr Flori receiving financial compensation.
A week later, the Queensland Police Service continued their disciplinary proceedings against Mr Flori.
“There was settlement there but then after it continued,” Mr Flori said.
“That was a continuation of a reprisal for another reprisal.”
In September 2015, the senior police officer formally withdrew the disciplinary hearing notice issued in 2013.
Mr Flori said he has since made a criminal complaint regarding the disciplinary action to police and the Crime and Corruption Commission but “no action” had been taken.
“I had already brought it to light and they failed to take any action and I was sort of gagged about what I could say before the trial,” he said.
“Now it is over and I have already pursued them to take this action and they haven’t taken any action.”
A statement from the Queensland Police Service said it was not in a position to comment on the matter as Mr Flori was “currently involved in civil proceedings with the QPS”.
“Anyone who has concerns about Queensland Police Service (QPS) conduct can make a complaint through the appropriate channels,” the statement read.
