An email exchange between former Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones and former Chief Commissioner Simon Overland - disclosed for the first time yesterday in an Ombudsman's report - exposes a conflict over admitting the force's fault to families of murder victims killed by parolees.
Sir Ken told Mr Overland that the force's failure to manage parolees "led to many other offences being committed, some very serious, against Victorians".
Read the full Ombudsman's report
Andy Corp, father of one of three murder victims whose deaths Sir Ken said should have been prevented, said yesterday his family had been victims of police politics.
The former British policeman said it would have been "basic common courtesy" for police to have briefed the three families.
"The police who worked on our case were absolutely wonderful and put in so much effort, compassion and kindness and were thorough and professional," Mr Corp said.
"But I think some of the people upstairs (were) more interested in politics and getting promoted than getting the job done".
The Herald Sun revealed the parole scandal on April 19 last year, quoting a secret report blaming system failures for parole violators being left on the streets.
Sir Ken said in an email to Mr Overland a fortnight later that Victoria Police should "consider sensitively advising them (the bereaved families) of our preliminary findings".
But Mr Overland told his deputy to wait, saying it was "a big call to go to the families with this news" and it would exacerbate the situation if notification was handled badly.
He told the Ombudsman he believed he had been "set up" by Sir Ken.
"I considered it possible that Jones's motive in sending me that email was to add to the growing list of 'controversies' then enveloping Victoria Police as part of the orchestrated media campaign against the office of (the) chief commissioner," he said.
Mr Corp, whose daughter Elsa was strangled and battered to death by a parole violator, said a lot of people "have been just covering their a--- on this situation".
"There's too much politics, political correctness and crap involved, instead of taking care of the victims," Mr Corp said.
His wife, Gilly, said the family still had not been formally told by police or anyone else how the system had failed their daughter.
"We should have been told, of course we should," Mrs Corp said. "We should not have had to read what went wrong on the front page of the newspaper."
Keith Moor details who is who and who said what in the continuing Simon Overland and Sir Ken Jones saga.
SIMON OVERLAND
Cleared by Ombudsman yesterday of breaching Whistleblowers Protection Act, but found to have taken action against Sir Ken Jones which was detrimental to Sir Ken's character and professional reputation. Mr Overland resigned as chief commissioner in June last year after the Ombudsman found he released dodgy crime statistics on the eve of the state election.
SIR KEN JONES
Resigned as deputy commissioner and ordered by Mr Overland to take 'gardening leave' on May 6 last year despite planned August departure. Accused by Mr Overland of leaking to the media, but the Ombudsman found no evidence Sir Ken was a leaker.
CHIEF COMMISSIONER KEN LAY
Was one of five of the force's top brass involved in a meeting with then chief commissioner Mr Overland, which Mr Overland claimed resulted in a unanimous decision that Sir Ken posed a significant risk and needed to be removed asap. Ombudsman's report yesterday criticised Mr Overland, saying his claim there was a unanimous view that Sir Ken was leaking to the media was disputed by those at the meeting.
DOUG FRYER
Senior Victoria Police officer who secretly taped Age journalist Nick McKenzie. Later told the Ombudsman he had no reason to think Sir Ken was leaking to Mr McKenzie.
OMBUDSMAN GEORGE BROUWER
Has more he wants to reveal about the saga, but is prevented from doing so by the Whistleblowers Protection Act. Has recommended to the State Government that it change the legislation to enable him to expose the extra details, which he said were in the public interest to reveal.
OPI.
Has not yet finished its Sir Ken probe and its final report may not be made public due to the Whistleblower Protection Act. It is believed a whistleblower has accused the OPI of abusing its power in its pursuit of Sir Ken.
POLICE MINISTER PETER RYAN
He and Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Helen Silver agree Mr Overland spoke to them early on May 6 last year and discussed the possibility of making Sir Ken take leave, but both deny Mr Overland told them it was going to happen that day.
heraldsun.com.au 23 Jun 2012
Corrupt police and judges always deny any wrongdoing or any other claims of inappropriate behaviour, even with evidence to the contrary.
Police are also on the payroll of criminal organisations, allowing 'bungles' to occur to let off the organisation's criminals officially.
These are the get out of jail free cards that police give to criminals, only later to be cashed in by the cops.
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