Police officer investigated for offering cash prize for fines | CarAdvice

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Police officer investigated for offering cash prize for fines

By Brett Davis |
FIND DEALS

A Western Australian senior police officer is under investigation after sending out an email offering a cash prize to any colleague who could issue the most fines.

In the email, South Hedland Sen Sgt Peter Pope told colleagues a $50 cash prize would be given to the officer with the best traffic figures, during the period between October 22 and 30.

According to reports, a tip-off was given to a member of the public from within South Hedland police station about the scheme. The member of the public requested the email through Freedom of Information.

The email encouraged officers to issue as many fines they could during the period when many officers would be away at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Sen Sgt Pope spoke of the expected dry week, saying, “obviously our traffic figures will diminish”.

A spokesperson for the WA Police recently said the concept of offering prizes was not supported by the WA Police, and said the competition did not go ahead. The spokesperson said the email was subject to an internal investigation, while “an officer” was being questioned.

Sen Sgt Pope said in the email it would be too irresponsible to offer alcohol for the prize, saying the winning officer could “relieve the Senior Sergeant of $50″.

The email said all fines would be “weighted”, giving those who were not qualified in certain fields an equal chance of claiming the $50. The email finished with,

“Enter the spirit and have some responsible fun.”

WA Police Union president Russell Armstrong said in a recent Yahoo report the competition seemed harmless.

“The officers are under an enormous amount of pressure to keep their stats up. [Pope's email] seems like it could have just been a bit of fun but hasn’t gone anywhere.”

We can’t help but wonder if more of this kind of thing goes on and passes by under the radar unnoticed.


 

  • Anonymous

    Yes, Protect and Serve

  • Tom

    This is sick… That they’re “investigating” him. He should be fired on the spot. I come from a family of cops and I still thing this is horribly wrong.

  • Tom

    This is sick… That they’re “investigating” him. He should be fired on the spot. I come from a family of cops and I still thing this is horribly wrong.

  • nickdl

    What a cr@p prize. CA gives $100 every week!

    • UniversityOfGoogle

      This is the Police we’re talking about lol.

      Can only afford to buy their daily doughnuts and coffee.

  • Guest

    The article will initiate a lot of pointless BS, bitching & moaning.
    It is simple,don’t speed & that meagre $50 bonus won’t get paid.
    Bonuses,commissions are paid in private enterprise to employees whose integrity could be far more suspect.  
    For those who habitually drive 10km/h over thinking speedo callibration will take care of me, those who text,don’t concentrate,drive like the road belongs to you,always pushing the envelope under all conditions,is all indicative of a bigger picture being the basic psyche of a repeat offender that will squeal like a pig once caught out of arrogance or immaturity rather than cop it & change the habits.

  • Anonymous

    “passes by under the radar unnoticed” – is that a pun?

  • Sumpguard

    If it was for booking people who text whilst driving make the prize bigger please and roll it out nationally.

  • Carl

    So are you saying corrupt behaviour like this should be kept hush hush just becuase you agree with it????

  • Joe

    So what you are saying is, that despite the millions of dollars of revenue, hundreds of thousands of fines withdrawn around the country due to faulty cameras, radars, illegal use of said equipment, etc., you believe that if you do not exceed an abitrary limit you won’t get caught……is that right?

    The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the proof tells me otherwise. You WILL eventually be issued an infringment for doing NOTHING wrong. That’s a fact Jack.

     

  • Bang_on33

    hahahahaha…. rubbish

  • Rolleyes

    Spoken like only a cop would. Go away.