True Blue Conversations - Former NSW Police Detective Deborah Locke – “Whistleblower”

True Blue Conversations is inclusive of all stories, this weeks guest had a
controversial policing career not by her choosing. Deborah Locke, a former Detective
served 12 years with the NSW police. She began in 1984 as a trainee at the Redfern
Police Academy and concluded her service in 1996 when she was discharged from
the service and deemed “medically unfit” as a result of workplace victimization and
harassment as an internal witness, more commonly referred to as a “whistleblower.”

During her time in the NSW Police Force, she was stationed at various commands
including the notorious Kings Cross Undercover Drug Unit, the Gaming Squad,
Parramatta Detectives, and the Fraud Squad.
In 1989 Deborah received a Commissioners Commendation for bravery in relation to
her undercover work.
As a young city detective in the early 1980s to mid-1990s, she was exposed to the
reality of criminal investigation in a major city. That reality was the widespread police
corruption which involved detectives freely associating with high-profile members of
Sydney’s underworld.
The police with whom she was working, were involved with accepting bribes,
protection money, drug trafficking, fraud, and the improper use of confidential
information, but to name a few.
When she presented the senior officers of Internal Affairs and subsequently the
highest levels of the Police Force with compelling evidence of what she had
observed, she was branded a “whistleblower” and placed her life at risk.
Since leaving the police she has been involved in developing and advocating for
services for families of people with disabilities, she is the author of WATCHING THE
DETECTIVES.

Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Deborah Locke
Editor: Kyle Watkins