Australia, narcs sue state

[palmspringsbum]

Stoned in line of duty

A undercover cop says the job wrecked his life, Now he and many others are suing. Amanda Watt reports

May 27, 2006
The Courier-Mail


FOR the 24-year-old rookie cop, it was the stuff of Hollywood – the opportunity to go undercover, infiltrate crime rings and lock the bad guys away.

But his fantasy job as a covert police officer turned into a living hell for Peter Stephenson, who 10 years later claims to be mentally scarred and fighting a long-standing addiction to marijuana and alcohol from his two year stint undercover.

He is now attempting to sue the state for up to $1 million and is not alone.

Up to seven former officers are attempting to sue.

His allegations against the Queensland Police Service contained in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court are disturbing.

Despite the fact he was required to infiltrate drug and crime networks in southeast Queensland and pass himself off as a drug addict, Stephenson says his training consisted of a three-week course where they were shown "drug lingo" but no actual drugs.

His drug knowledge was so poor that, in his first few weeks undercover, drug dealers sometimes picked him as a cop.

Stephenson accuses his superiors of not adequately supervising him on dangerous assignments and turning a blind eye to his escalating drug use.

"I was smoking from first thing in the morning until late at night with my primary target and his friends. I was seeing (my direct supervisor) every two to three days and it was obvious that I was stoned," he said in his affidavit.

"He would sometimes ask me whether I was smoking too much. At no time did (the supervisor) ask me to undergo a drug test or recommend that the operation be shut down as a result of my drug use."

Within months he was addicted to marijuana.

The work was dangerous – potentially deadly – but he alleges he was not protected.

After a run-in with a bikie during a drug deal that went sour, Stephenson feared his life was in danger but his boss allegedly made it clear the operation would continue.

Stephenson's drug addiction continued throughout his return to uniform duties.

"I was turning up to work stoned and the first thing I did as soon as I got home was smoke a joint."

He retired on medical grounds in 2001 and has struggled with every job he's attempted since.

Stephenson's bid for compensation, first filed in 2001, reached the High Court last week, which granted him an extension of time in which he could bring his claim.

Permission was also granted to two other former undercover officers who are seeking a similar damages payout to Stephenson.

Brisbane law firm Gilshenan & Luton, who are fighting the trio's cases on behalf of the Queensland Police Union, are also representing another four former undercover officers in claims. In a 2003 court document – filed before Stephenson's damning affidavit in 2004 – lawyers for the Queensland Police Service initially rejected many aspects of Stephenson's claims.

They said he underwent psychological testing before he became a covert officer, was offered supervision during each operation and was given support on his reintroduction to uniform duties.

A QPS spokeswoman said she was unable to comment on cases before court.

But she said covert policies were "continually monitored".

She said officers accepted into the program underwent stringent selection and training which included drug testing and that officers voluntarily exited the program at any time.