The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) rejects criticisms contained in both the article and editorial published in the Townsville Bulletin on 16 August 2008 about a CMC investigation in the Burdekin area.
The article, Treated like a criminal, asserted that Senior Sergeant Mick Isles, Officer-in-Charge, Ayr Police Station, was publicly humiliated by being detained by CMC officers at a Lions Club gathering and having his house raided by the CMC.
The suggestion that CMC investigators acted inappropriately towards Senior Sergeant Isles has no basis in truth. CMC investigators were not present at the social gathering in question, and did not detain him at any stage.
The CMC had applied for, and obtained, search warrants in respect of an ongoing investigation. On the day in question, a senior Queensland police officer (not from the CMC) approached Senior Sergeant Isles at the social gathering and advised him that the CMC intended to execute search warrants, including one for the police station at which Isles is the officer-in-charge. Senior Sergeant Isles chose to be present while the searches took place.
The events in question occurred after consultation with the Queensland Police Service, and with the cooperation of the Northern Regional Command.
The CMC is approaching this matter in the same way it conducts all its investigations: with due consideration to all potentially affected individuals, and regardless of the fact that someone is a senior police officer.
The CMC proposes to interview Senior Sergeant Isles when he is available.
As the matter is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to release any further details at this stage.
ENDS
