A former senior NSW police officer is on bail pending appeal after being sentenced to jail for giving false information to the force's watchdog.
Earlier this year, Michael Rowan pleaded guilty to two counts of knowingly giving false or misleading evidence at an examination.
The charges related to a Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) investigation, which centred around his relationships with three female officers.
In the Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, Rowan was questioned on giving false evidence to the LECC about losing his phone, and the extent of a meeting with one of his colleagues after he was directed to have no contact with her.
The 59-year-old was sentenced to eight months in prison with a non-parole period of six months.
But he was immediately granted bail after his barrister Stephen Stanton applied for it to appeal the sentence.
A hearing is set down before the District Court on October 4.
Rowan's former position in the police force and place of work can not be detailed for legal reasons.
In her sentencing, Magistrate Megan Greenwood said the offending "strike[s] to the heart of the justice system".
She said there was community interest in organisations like LECC being able to conduct investigations with people telling the truth.
"There's a strong need for general deterrence given you were a serving and very senior police officer," Magistrate Greenwood said.
She said Rowan would have been "acutely aware" of the importance of telling the truth.
"You would have been on oath," she said.
False evidence to 'protect' colleague
In the witness box, Rowan was asked about his evidence to the LECC regarding the encounter with one of his female colleagues.
The court heard Rowan initially told the LECC it was fleeting, then later changed it to say they spent time together at a hotel.
He denied it was to protect himself, instead, he was "protecting" her because she was being "targeted and I didn't want to be part of that process of targeting her".
Rowan later elaborated saying that she would have been "subject to immediate disciplinary action and in all likelihood would have been sacked" given the LECC was also investigating her.
Rowan said he "corrected" his evidence.
"My previous evidence, it had not been a full and frank account and I wanted to give a full and frank account," he said.
His barrister said Rowan was "remorseful" and of good character who "persisted to give back to the community".
Still getting 'generous' pay
The court heard Rowan retired on medical grounds in July 2019.
The police prosecutor described his "life-long" pension as "generous" with Rowan telling the court he continues to receive about $4,800 a fortnight.
In her closing argument, she argued there was little extra-curial punishment given the way he left the force and the amount of money he was still receiving.
She said the notion of "chivalry" to protect the female officer should be rejected as he "knew very well that it was his misconduct that was under the microscope" and that providing false evidence was "ultimately to protect himself".
She said Rowan was an "important role model" to officers who gave evidence in court often.
"There should be a clear message that there must be truthful evidence given," she said.
