Corrupt underworld cop gets 7yrs in prison

A former Melbourne drug squad detective,once regarded as one the states most respected and highly decorated officers,has been jailed for a maximum of 7 years today in court for trafficking drugs to gangsters and an outlaw motorcycle gang. Former Det Sgt Wayne Strawhorn was sentenced over his role in using an informer to sell 2 kilo's of drug chemical psudoephedrine to murdered gangland figure Mark Moran. Though its not mentioned in the report,Strawhorn also made another deal using an informer to traffick more of the chemicals to a drug cook for the Bandidos bike gang. Straworn still maintains his innocence over the charges,and has always denied being involved in the drug deals.

Victoria's Armed robbery squad disbanded

Members of the Victorian police force and the police association were outraged today at Christine Nixon and Simon Overland after the high profile and elite Armed Offenders squad (aka armed robbery squad) was disbanded from the force. The move has created an even worse split within the Victorian police force,with the union threatening industrial action over the decision. The squad was raided by officers from the Ethical standards department (E.S.D) earlier this year over allegations of assults and bashing suspects. Senior police are outraged over the disbanding,which was the result of complaints of a drug-addicted armed robber who is responsible for several armed robberies in which shots were fired and a store owner pistol whipped. The armed offenders squad is considered the most decorated and successful unit in Victoria's police force history. During the 80's and 90's it was also the most feared,with some suspects even admitting to armed holdups rather than risk being raided by members of the squad

About Roger Rogerson

Roger Caleb Rogerson (born January 3, 1941) is a controversial former detective-sergeant of the New South Wales Police Force. Rogerson was convicted of perverting the course of justice and lying to the 1999 Police Integrity Commission. He was one of its most decorated officers, having received at least 13 awards for bravery, outstanding policemanship and devotion to duty including the Peter Mitchell Trophy, the highest annual police award.

Rogerson is also known for his association with other NSW detectives who are reputed to have been corrupt, including Ray "Gunner" Kelly and Fred Krahe, and with a number of organised crime figures, including Arthur "Neddy" Smith, Graham "Abo" Henry, Warren Lanfranchi, Robert Arthur "Bobby" Chapman, Paul "The Paddy" O'Halloran, John Tex Moran, and Christopher Dale Flannery. Neddy Smith was a convicted heroin dealer, rapist and armed robber who has claimed Rogerson gave him the "green light" to commit crimes in New South Wales. Henry and Lanfranchi were also heroin dealers and armed robbers, while Flannery specialised in contract killing.

Police Corruption

Australian Story - Simon Illingworth - The Underbelly

Simon Illingworth is a former member of the Victoria police in Australia. He served in many different roles throughout his time in the force, but his most significant contribution was with the Victoria Police Ethical Standards Department (the Victoria Police version of Internal Affairs) where he helped weed out and prosecute corrupt police officers.

After retiring from the force he has written a book about his experiences entitled "Filthy Rat", selling 9,000 copies before being out of print in 2007. He also appeared on "Australian Story"  in May 2004 to tell his unique story and offer insight on the Melbourne underworld and police corruption.

Due to the upsurge of interest in the 1995-2004 gangland war in Melbourne sparked by the recent Australian Underbelly TV series, publisher Fontaine Press has re-released "Filthy Rat" in May 2008.

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Australian Story - Simon Illingworth - The Underbelly