Gold Coast police inspector defends officers at CMC hearing

Burleigh Heads CIB chief Inspector Mick Dowie went on the offensive at the Crime and Misconduct Commission hearing this afternoon after evidence of rogue detectives vomiting in and urinating on a police car that was being used as a 'blue-light taxi'. The inquiry was told the use of blue-light taxis among Gold Coast police was widespread and accepted, with one officer admitting to using them up to 50 times to get to and from nightclubs and social functions. Surfers Paradise police inspector Neil Haslam made the call at a the CMC hearing which has heard evidence of Coast police taking and dealing drugs, drinking on duty and accepting free drinks at nightclubs. Insp Haslam said random pass drug test 'could assist' improve police behaviour and believed the frequency of random alcohol testing needed to be increased. The hearing was told a former stripper and drug user had applied to join the Queensland Police Service and that one Gold Coast officer facing criminal charges had been disciplined while training at the academy. Insp Haslam told the Operation Tesco hearing he believed there needed to be more rigorous vetting of police recruits. Insp Haslam replied: "One bad apple has had a significant effect on the Gold Coast district and that's why we're here today.'' Mr Moynihan later said there appeared to be 'more than two or three bad apples' among Gold Coast police.