The NSW Police Force has launched an internal investigation into the ABC's revelations about the horseracing interests of former commissioner Mick Fuller and senior officers.
Yesterday the ABC revealed Mr Fuller and senior police did not declare their shares in racehorses which is in potential breach of anti-corruption rules.
They co-owned racehorses with sporting identities, media bosses and leaders of industries — including the liquor, racing, gaming and security sectors — declared "high risk" under the force's policies.
The horse co-owners included two businessmen who became embroiled in criminal investigations.
One of those businessmen owned a catering company that won a $3 million contract from the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) in 2017, after Mr Fuller became commissioner.
"The matters raised by ABC Investigations are currently under investigation by Professional Standards Command," a NSW Police spokeswoman said in a statement.
She said the new Police Commissioner, Karen Webb, remains "committed to strengthening policy if there is a need to do so."
The ABC understands the internal investigation will examine the conduct of high-ranking serving NSWPF employees who owned shares in racehorses with Mr Fuller.
However, pressure is mounting on the NSW government to launch an independent inquiry into the racing ties of Mr Fuller, who retired last month.
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, who has been raising questions for years about Mr Fuller's racing interests, said he doubted whether an internal investigation would have any impact.
"While it is good to finally see some movement, there is little confidence that police investigating very senior police will produce a genuine outcome," he said.
"There are so many internal conflicts in a case like this that these matters should be referred to a senior police investigator from outside of NSW."
Racing 'high risk' for conflicts of interest
NSW Racing Minister Kevin Andrews yesterday blocked Mr Fuller's bid to join the board of horseracing body Racing NSW in response to the ABC's revelations.
From 2015, Mr Fuller and at least five senior NSWPF officers and executives acquired shares in racehorses from high-profile horse trainer David Vandyke, who was embroiled in several doping scandals.
Mr Vandyke was banned for three years in 1989 and fined three times since 2015 because of banned substances in his racehorses.
Mr Fuller owned shares in two Vandyke-trained horses: Once Epona Time, from 2019 to 2020, and Mad Magic before he became commissioner.
Mr Fuller did not declare his shares in the horses to the state government.
Under the NSWPF code of conduct, he was required to make declarations at least every year to the government of any private interests, social activities or relationships which had the potential to, or could be perceived to, influence his decisions.
All NSWPF employees must also declare any private interests, including shareholdings and social and sporting activities, which have the potential to, or could be perceived to, interfere with or influence their public duties.
The NSWPF's official policies have declared the racing industry as "high risk" for conflicts of interest since the Wood royal commission into police corruption 25 years ago.
The racehorse co-owners included a who's who of Sydney's elite, including NRL coach Ricky Stuart, celebrity businessman Mark Bouris, and former News Limited boss John Hartigan.
One co-owner of Mad Magic, David Levy, owned a catering company that secured a $3.1 million contract from the NSWPF in 2017, after Mr Fuller became commissioner.
The deal was triple the value of a contract awarded to the company, Ozmart Catering Group, five years earlier.
Mr Levy has for many years employed a former policeman and friend of Mr Fuller, John McCusker, as a manager in his food business.
Mr McCusker's wife, Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker, is seen as a frontrunner in the race to be promoted to deputy commissioner.
Mr McCusker earlier told the ABC neither he nor his wife financially benefited from Ozmart's deal with the NSWPF.
Mr Fuller told the ABC he was not required to declare his shares in the racehorses, in what he described as "social" racing syndicates.
He said he did not have "personal knowledge of, or a friendship with all of the syndicate owners".
"I have legally and ethically complied with all government policies over my 34 years loyal service," he said in a statement.
Mr Fuller said he "never personally benefited" from the business dealings of Mr Levy, who he said he knew but had not "seen or spoken to … in six years".
While he was commissioner, Mr Fuller ordered a review of the Ozmart tender process by consulting firm Deloitte, which he said cleared him of "any wrongdoing".
The scope of the review excluded verification of conflicts of interest. The final report did not mention Mr Fuller.
A NSWPF spokeswoman told the ABC the senior police officers who owned shares in racehorses with Mr Fuller remained on duty.
They include three assistant commissioners: Gavin Wood, Mark Walton and Scott Andrew Whyte.
Assistant Commissioner Whyte said he never declared his 2.5 per cent share in Once Epona Time.
The NSW Police executive director of public affairs, Grant Williams, and Detective Chief Inspector Peter Faux were also members of the horseracing syndicates.
Assistant commissioners Whyte and Walton, Detective Chief Inspector Faux and Mr Williams provided statements to the ABC which said they did not breach any rules or engage in misconduct.
