Chief Commissioner Mike Bush rejects misleading claims over police helicopter use as new flight details emerge
“To be clear, this flight was not for non-operational travel; it was to gain a true understanding of how the air wing works in the air that cannot be obtained from ground level.”
Bush was earlier in the air wing en route to Porepunkah after two police officers were shot dead.Credit: Justin McManus
The flight was deemed necessary by Victoria Police to enable Bush to understand the unique technology of Victoria’s air wing fleet, which differs from the fleet he oversees in New Zealand. The aircraft, which included the executive assistant, was returning to Victoria Police Station for helipad training.
messenger of the sun It was revealed that Bush’s wife, Vicky, also participated in a separate 10-minute flight over Melbourne on June 28.
The flight was organized by a senior member of the air wing to train two senior New Zealand police officials, a deputy commissioner and an administrative manager on the air wing’s capabilities. Although Bush was not on this flight, his wife joined the flight after receiving an invitation from the same senior member.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said Victorians deserved Bush’s transparency and accountability.
“At a time when Victoria is in the midst of a crime crisis, the public must have full confidence in Victoria Police leadership,” he said.
“The questions remain: Has there been any impact on community safety or police operations? Have there been any additional costs for Victorians? What will the government do to protect the integrity of all police officers?”
Two weeks ago, Bush admitted that his flight to the conference in Hobart on October 20 was an error in judgment that “failed the broadcast test”.
One of Victoria Police’s air wing helicopters will be introduced in 2020.Credit: EddieJim
Bush and a staff officer flew to Hobart to attend a police conference in a police helicopter typically used for police operations such as tracking stolen vehicles or searching for missing persons; The helicopter was grounded overnight due to a mechanical problem.
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The police chief said the unplanned overnight stay added to minor accommodation costs for the crew, but otherwise the flight was within Victoria Police’s contracted monthly flying hours for October and would not result in additional costs to taxpayers.
The flight did not impact police operational capacity or community safety because the aircraft was on a backup helicopter typically used for training flights rather than fighting crime, the official said.
“We have to make the right decisions. This wasn’t one of them. I’m ready to own it, address it and make sure it never happens again,” he said at the time.
Bush was earlier in the air wing en route to Porepunkah after two police officers were shot dead.
