- Queensland barman Craig Tomsett 'sacked for dobbing in cop'
- By Robyn Ironside
- The Courier-Mail
- 21/03/2009 Make a Comment (2)
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 258 articles in 2009 )
* Cop "drink-driving with kids"
* Barman who dobs "has personal vendetta"
* Cop complains, barman sacked
A QUEENSLAND barman has lost his job after he dobbed in a police officer for downing three heavy beers in an hour then driving home with his three children in the car.
Craig Tomsett of Gladstone was sacked by his boss at the Gladstone Golf Club when the police officer in question made a written complaint about his behaviour on February 13.
In the letter, the police officer admitted to drinking three schooners of Toohey's Extra Dry in an hour then driving home with his children.
He said when he was breath-tested at home by police he was "well under 0.05" despite having consumed the equivalent of 4.5 standard drinks.
"If Tomsett alleges I was intoxicated to such an extent that he was concerned about me driving a motor vehicle, the question begs asking as to why he continued serving me alcohol which is in clear breach of the Liquor Act 1992 and Liquor Regulations 2002," the officer wrote in the letter sent from Gladstone Police Station.
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"An offence which, if proved to be accurate, would lead to a substantial monetary fine for the Gladstone Golf Club."
He also claimed Mr Tomsett, 39, had a personal vendetta against him as a police officer and suggested the single father would be "well advised to look after his own back yard".
Mr Tomsett was sacked the day after his employer received the letter, which he has passed on to the Crime and Misconduct Commission.
Police this week confirmed the Ethical Standards Command was investigating Mr Tomsett's complaint with the CMC overviewing.
Mr Tomsett admitted he and the police officer were former neighbours who had a falling out last year over the officer's dogs but he denied the drink-driving allegation was a payback.
"I have an obligation of care to notify police. His statement in itself is evident that he was drink-driving," Mr Tomsett said.
Since making the complaint to the CMC, Mr Tomsett said he had been followed by the police officer in question and on Thursday his house was raided by police and the dog squad.
Gladstone police said the raid was related to a separate matter but Mr Tomsett claimed he was the victim of intimidation.
"I had an officer intimidate me and threaten to put my four-year-old son into child services. It just beggars belief. They found nothing," Mr Tomsett, who has previously been fined for possessing a small amount of marijuana, said.
Gladstone Golf Club manager Ivan Carr said Mr Tomsett was sacked because of his "inappropriate behaviour" towards the police officer but declined to comment further.
Police were unable to comment because the matter is under investigation.
* Barman who dobs "has personal vendetta"
* Cop complains, barman sacked
A QUEENSLAND barman has lost his job after he dobbed in a police officer for downing three heavy beers in an hour then driving home with his three children in the car.
Craig Tomsett of Gladstone was sacked by his boss at the Gladstone Golf Club when the police officer in question made a written complaint about his behaviour on February 13.
In the letter, the police officer admitted to drinking three schooners of Toohey's Extra Dry in an hour then driving home with his children.
He said when he was breath-tested at home by police he was "well under 0.05" despite having consumed the equivalent of 4.5 standard drinks.
"If Tomsett alleges I was intoxicated to such an extent that he was concerned about me driving a motor vehicle, the question begs asking as to why he continued serving me alcohol which is in clear breach of the Liquor Act 1992 and Liquor Regulations 2002," the officer wrote in the letter sent from Gladstone Police Station.
Related Coverage
* Arrested man accused of spittingCourier Mail, 20 Mar 2009
* Blood 'spat in police officer's face'NEWS.com.au, 20 Mar 2009
* 'Drink-drive' officer not chargedAdelaide Now, 8 Feb 2009
* Country cops on call in pubsCourier Mail, 20 Jan 2009
* Drink-drive cop may face sackCourier Mail, 12 Jan 2009
"An offence which, if proved to be accurate, would lead to a substantial monetary fine for the Gladstone Golf Club."
He also claimed Mr Tomsett, 39, had a personal vendetta against him as a police officer and suggested the single father would be "well advised to look after his own back yard".
Mr Tomsett was sacked the day after his employer received the letter, which he has passed on to the Crime and Misconduct Commission.
Police this week confirmed the Ethical Standards Command was investigating Mr Tomsett's complaint with the CMC overviewing.
Mr Tomsett admitted he and the police officer were former neighbours who had a falling out last year over the officer's dogs but he denied the drink-driving allegation was a payback.
"I have an obligation of care to notify police. His statement in itself is evident that he was drink-driving," Mr Tomsett said.
Since making the complaint to the CMC, Mr Tomsett said he had been followed by the police officer in question and on Thursday his house was raided by police and the dog squad.
Gladstone police said the raid was related to a separate matter but Mr Tomsett claimed he was the victim of intimidation.
"I had an officer intimidate me and threaten to put my four-year-old son into child services. It just beggars belief. They found nothing," Mr Tomsett, who has previously been fined for possessing a small amount of marijuana, said.
Gladstone Golf Club manager Ivan Carr said Mr Tomsett was sacked because of his "inappropriate behaviour" towards the police officer but declined to comment further.
Police were unable to comment because the matter is under investigation.
Source: https://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25218828-421,00.html
i find it difficult to be as politically correct in this matter.
at 58 years of age i have met a lot of police officers for many and varied reasons.
most of them i have found to be corrupt abusive thugs.
this is especially when they know they are out of sight of the general public.
i believe the intelligence and training of our police is less than that given to seeing eye dogs.
i think the state is so desperate to attain the required numbers that all kinds of criminals and deviates get into the force.
as for self investigation, it makes no difference who investigates the corrupt police, because they believe they are above the law and act accordingly.
the entire police organisation requires a new agenda.
high ranking and intellectual civilians should be in charge of police.
officers should understand that they are public servants at all times and suffer severe penalties if they abuse their position of trust.
problem is that this has to be organised by politicians, who themselves are criminals of the highest level.
they rely on the police to come running each time they squeal for help. don't think they are going to upset the delicate balance currently in place.
as for the cop in Queensland, i doubt he will suffer any punishment.
Most people understand policing can be a difficult a stressful and problematic job at times, however with the right training it shouldn't be that burdensome.
However, there are some useless, lying mongrel thugs in the police force who ought to be relieved of their commission, serve time in jail or simply just need a good public stoning, just so that they remember their duty is to serve, and not be an asshole!
This cop in this article sounds arrogant, threatening, intimidating and should no doubt be investigated, not for him drinking 3 schooners of beer, but the harrassment and thuggery that followed, of this barman who yes, possibly did have a duty of care, albeit he may not have exercised it in the right manner.
It's no doubt police have too much power to yield at times, and specific members of the force need to be under advisement that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated by the public.
Police should not be investigating their own, as we all know, that is a rort in itself.
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