A former senior executive at the Western Australia police force has failed to convince the state’s industrial relations commission he should not be demoted over a workplace affair.
The case led to the demotion of the senior executive after it emerged he had “intimate liaisons” with a young staff member who sent him explicit photographs.
Former office of information management assistant director John Purcell had an affair with an employee and used the police computer system to receive the photos, including images of semi-nudity, from 2013 to 2016.
The woman, who no longer works for WA police, was overseen by Purcell from 2013 to 2014.
Their secret relationship was exposed by an internal affairs email audit, and Purcell was demoted and took a significant pay cut.
Purcell, who has worked for the police force since 1992 but is not a sworn officer, took his case to the industrial relations commission, arguing the demotion was “harsh and unfair” because he had an otherwise unblemished record and had taken steps to redeem himself.
But last week the commission ruled his demotion was appropriate.
“The appellant’s misconduct can only be described as brazen and cavalier,” the commission said.
Purcell also shared sensitive information via email to an unauthorised person between 2015 and 2016.
Losing his level 8.3 employment status, and dropping down to a level 5.4 role, meant he was unlikely to have further access to sensitive or confidential material.
The commission said Purcell had displayed a complete disregard for his obligations as a senior executive, noting it was sustained misconduct over several years.
“As a very senior manager of the respondent, the appellant was largely immune from scrutiny and oversight, which enabled his behaviour to go undetected,” the commission said.
“As a senior employee, the respondent was entitled to place its trust in the appellant’s integrity, probity, and the exercise of his managerial discretion, which trust was breached.”
