NSW Senior Police Officer Convicted of Mid-Range Drink Driving After Tunnel Crash

The officer, protected by a 40-year suppression order, fled the scene to avoid a breath test and faces sentencing in February.

The officer, referred to as 'AB' due to a court suppression order, was found guilty of mid-range drink driving after crashing a work-issued vehicle in Sydney's NorthConnex tunnel in May 2023.
He consumed over 20 standard drinks during a nine-hour session before the crash and moved the damaged car to a suburban street to avoid a breath test.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) found AB engaged in serious misconduct, including fleeing the scene and making false statements on an insurance claim.
The officer was initially charged with high-range drink driving, but a court found insufficient evidence to prove a blood alcohol level above 0.15, leading to a conviction for the lesser mid-range offence.
The LECC report criticized the lenient treatment AB received from his superior, which it said undermined confidence in the NSW Police Force.