Pubdate: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 Source: Canberra Times (Australia) Contact: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/ Author: Jim Dickins POLICE OFFICER HELPED BUY DRUGS, COURT TOLD An ACT police sergeant told her boyfriend where he could buy heroin and lent him money and a black BMW to do it, the ACT Magistrates Court has heard. Police allege that Sheryl Leanne Hedges, 35, a beat team officer with City Patrol at the time, also used her access to AFP computers to find information about a well-known fraud and drug offender whom investigators later linked to her boyfriend. She allegedly looked up her boyfriend's criminal record, contrary to regulations, and checked AFP records relating to herself. A search of the Queanbeyan house she shared with her boyfriend, Michael John Turski, 36, found used syringes and AFP drug seals issued in Sydney in 1990, shortly after Hedges transferred from the Drugs Unit there. She is charged with conspiracy to possess heroin and seven counts of unlawful access to information on a Commonwealth computer. The day before her arrest, when Turski was allegedly having problems finding cheap heroin, Hedges reminded him of two dealers she had heard about through a police intelligence gathering operation focusing on the dealers' home. Turski, who has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to possess heroin, admitted he used Hedges' money and BMW sedan to buy heroin at various locations around Canberra. Unemployed, Turski did not own a car and did not have a drivers' licence. He told police Hedges knew she was helping him buy the drug. A surveillance operation beginning on July 21, 1998, allegedly records Hedges discussing details of police investigations, including at least one into a Turski supplier. On one occasion she talked about her desire to take ecstasy the following Saturday night. During a conversation in the BMW, Hedges allegedly asked Turski where her police badge was, fearing it would be seen if someone else got into the car while he was using it. The day before her arrest and suspension from duties on August 4 1998, Hedges allegedly expressed concern about losing her job if their activities were ever discovered, with Turski saying she was being selfish. Hedges replied that if she was sacked there would be no more money for him to buy drugs. Police allege that between July 21 and August 4, 1998 the pair withdrew thousands of dollars in cash from Hedges' account to buy heroin for Turski. Turski and Hedges made automatic teller machine withdrawals of between $100 and $700, with Hedges accompanying Turski on some of his buying expeditions, and on at least one occasion was present while Turski injected in the car. According to police the pair met in Queanbeyan at a Karabar High School reunion. Hedges was committed to stand trial on a date to be fixed. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart