Public Statement

7 OCTOBER 2025

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Statement by Commissioner Emma Townsend, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption

This is a public statement about the outcome of an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of alleged breaches of discipline by the Commissioner of Police, Grant Stevens.

It was alleged that, on two occasions in the early 1990s, Commissioner Stevens discharged his police issued firearm while on duty, and that neither instance was reported or investigated as required by the orders and procedures in place at the time.

After investigating the matter, ICAC has determined the allegations are refuted.

Pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Police Complaints and Discipline Act 2016 (PCD Act), I authorise the publication and disclosure of the information contained in this statement.

The report

On 2 July 2025 the Commission received a referral from the Office for Public Integrity (OPI) with a report of alleged misconduct by Commissioner Stevens.

The report arose from information South Australia Police (SA Police) had received from a journalist on 19 June 2025. That information alleged that, on two occasions in ‘about 1991’ Commissioner Stevens discharged his police issued firearm while on duty, and that neither instance was reported or investigated in accordance with applicable orders and procedures. It was suggested that the matter had been ‘swept under the rug’.

Media reporting

The allegations were the subject of reporting in the media on 29 June 2025. Commissioner Stevens was not named as the officer in that reporting because the matter was under investigation by the Internal Investigation Section (IIS) of SA Police.

On 2 July 2025 Commissioner Stevens made statements in the media to disclose that he was the police officer about whom the report was made. Commissioner Stevens stated that he had been involved in an incident in 1990 during which he accidentally discharged a firearm during an attempt to execute a warrant in relation to suspected drug offending.

He said the matter was reported as required at the time and it was resolved by way of (what is now called) management resolution. Commissioner Stevens stated that the second alleged incident did not take place.

Why ICAC decided to investigate

On 11 July 2025, ICAC decided to investigate the matter under section 30 of the PCD Act. In doing so, the Commission is not investigating if a police officer has engaged in corruption, rather, it examines whether the officer has committed a breach of discipline in contrary to the SA Police Code of Conduct.

In most cases, the IIS conducts disciplinary investigations of SA police officers. However, sections 29 and 30 of the PCD Act provide an important mechanism by which a disciplinary matter involving police officers can be investigated by an authority independent of SA Police. In some circumstances, an independent investigation might be important for maintaining public confidence in SA Police and its investigations; for example, because the subject of the allegation is a senior officer within SA Police, or indeed within the IIS itself.

In this case, ICAC considered the fact that the matter involved the Commissioner of Police, SA Police’s highest-ranked police officer, and that the allegations had been the subject of media reporting.

In these circumstances, an independent investigation of the matter by ICAC was likely to promote and maintain public confidence in SA Police, and was consistent with the purposes of the PCD Act.

ICAC’s investigation

ICAC has conducted an independent investigation of the allegations.

This investigation involved obtaining and examining relevant documents and witness statements and receiving information from SA Police. The documents ICAC considered included a Police Commissioner’s Officer file from 1991, a General Order in force at the relevant time, and statements of witnesses made both in 1991 and for the purposes of considering the report.

The Commission’s investigation established that:

• In December 1990, when he was a Senior Constable stationed at Elizabeth CIB, Commissioner Stevens was involved in a raid on a property at which it was suspected that drugs were being sold. While attempting to gain entry, his firearm discharged accidentally. Noone was injured and damage to the property was repaired by SA Police.
• The incident was reported on the day it occurred in accordance with the applicable procedures. It was thoroughly investigated in accordance with those procedures. That investigation was appropriately documented. The investigation resulted in then-Senior Constable Stevens receiving additional training.  He was not otherwise subject to any disciplinary proceedings. This was an appropriate outcome.
• The second alleged incident involving the discharge of a firearm did not occur.

Based on these facts, the Commission has determined that the alleged breaches of discipline have been refuted. The investigation has been closed.

Why the Commissioner has decided to make this public statement

Given the media coverage that these allegations received, I consider it appropriate to make this public statement to ensure that the South Australian community is made aware of the steps that have been taken to investigate this matter.

I would like to assure the public that the allegations made regarding the conduct of the Commissioner of Police have been independently investigated and found to be without substance.

This is, in my view, an appropriate step to ensure public confidence in SA Police is maintained.

For media enquiries please contact 0428 389 493 or media@icac.sa.gov.au.