Former NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the independent law enforcement watchdog following an investigation into his historical part-ownership of two racehorses.
In the report to parliament, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) said it appeared Mr Fuller was instead the victim of a campaign mounted by disaffected officers to harm his reputation.
An ABC investigation in February revealed the former police chief did not declare his shares in two racehorses to the state government until he sold them, which could have been a potential breach of anti-corruption rules.
Mr Fuller part-owned Mad Magic between 2015 to 2017 and Once Epona Time, which he had an interest in from 2019 to 2020.
One member of the syndicate that owned Mad Magic was subject to a fraud investigation by police in 2016 but was never charged, while another was being investigated over the illegal dumping of asbestos.
A high-profile trainer involved with both horses had also been accused of doping.
The commission examined Mr Fuller’s involvement with the racehorse syndicate and found there was “no substance in any of the allegations” that had been made.
The LECC report suggested the now-retired commissioner was being targeted by disgruntled former co-workers who repeated old claims in an attempt to harm his future career prospects.
The watchdog had previously investigated Mr Fuller’s ties with the racehorse industry and cleared him of any wrongdoing following several complaints dating back to 2016.
“It is worrying that this has been raised and it lends credibility to the explanation that someone is prepared to throw whatever mud they can, in the hope something sticks," the report said.
“At the end of the day, Mr Fuller has served 34 years of loyal service with the NSW Police Force and he has been responsible for significant reforms in the police force which have had the effect of increasing its efficiency and enhancing its reputation."
"The central point of the reporting was whether former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller had declared his racehorse ownership to the state government," the ABC said in a statement.
"The ABC stands by its reporting that Mr Fuller did not declare his racehorse ownership to the government as he was required to under the NSW Police policies and procedures.
"Under those policies and procedures Mr Fuller was required to declare any actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interest to the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) at least annually.
"The LECC did not contradict the ABC's reporting that Mr Fuller did not declare his racehorse ownership to the DPC.
"The ABCs reporting was accurate, fair and thorough and brought to light potential issues around transparency and public trust, about which citizens have a right to be informed."
