A veteran Victoria Police officer has been slapped with almost 90 criminal charges after an internal anti-corruption investigation uncovered potential wrongdoing.
The alleged corruption involved officers lying under oath to obtain search warrants for police raids were which were carried out on contrived information.
At least 15 Victorians may have been unlawfully arrested due to the alleged offences, including two juveniles and a man who was jailed.
Victoria Police charged Calum McCann, 49, with a 87 offences including misconduct in public office, inciting a person to access police information, inciting a person to commit misconduct in public office, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, attempt to pervert the course of justice and perjury.
The alleged offences took place between June 2018 and August 2021 while the involved officers were on duty.
Victoria Police said in a statement the force’s legal services department and professional standards command have launched an investigation following the initial probe.
“Investigators have identified seven affidavits relating to 12 addresses alleged to contain some false information that were used to obtain search warrants between June 2018 and August 2020,” the statement said.
“As a result a 49-year-old male sergeant from the western region was charged on 28 October 2021 with 87 offences including misconduct in public office, incite a person to access police information, incite a person to commit misconduct in public office, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, attempt to pervert the course of justice, perjury, intimidation or reprisals relating to witnesses and create false document.
“A detective sergeant from professional standards command was also charged on 28 October 2021 with four offences including conspiracy to access police information, conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, attempting to access police information and attemptingxjmtzyw to commit misconduct in public office.”
Victoria Police also said the investigation was initially launched following a tip off from a fellow officer.
“This is an isolated issue involving a very small number of officers,” the statement said.
“While any allegation of falsified affidavits is completely unacceptable, it is pleasing to see the issue was raised internally for investigation. It shows the vast majority of officers are doing the right thing and will not stand by idly if they see potential employee misconduct.”
