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.