NSW Police Officer Guilty of Drink Driving

A senior NSW police officer, referred to as AB due to a 40-year suppression order, has been found guilty of mid-range drink-driving following a crash in the NorthConnex tunnel in May 2023. Despite evidence suggesting he consumed over 20 drinks, he avoided a high-range charge, with the magistrate determining his blood-alcohol content was approximately 0.137. The officer had previously faced serious misconduct findings for leaving the crash scene to evade breath testing and providing false information on an insurance claim. The case, which drew significant media attention and scrutiny from police watchdogs, raised concerns about potential cover-ups within the police leadership. The officer is currently out of the workplace and is scheduled for sentencing on February 4, 2024.