A former New South Wales police officer has disclosed the reasons behind his decision to report his colleagues after viewing footage of a violent altercation involving National Rugby League player Tom Starling.
The Incident Unfolds
The Canberra Raiders hooker was attending a 21st birthday celebration with his family at Shady Palms restaurant on the New South Wales Central Coast in December 2020. During the event, his mother was allegedly insulted by a security guard, leading to a chaotic situation. The NRL player ended up on the losing side when he was allegedly repeatedly punched by police officers at the scene.
Starling was restrained while two officers reportedly struck him. Despite this, police charged him with assaulting four officers. The case eventually went to court, where Starling was acquitted of all charges related to the brawl.
Whistleblower's Account
Detective Sergeant Kurt Hayward has now described his reaction upon viewing closed-circuit television footage of the incident the following day. He observed Sergeant Evan Huw Prowse and Senior Constable Steven Lockwood Brown allegedly assaulting a defenseless Starling.
Hayward, who served as a NSW police officer for 23 years, was shocked to see Sergeant Prowse allegedly punch Starling at least twice, followed by Constable Brown also allegedly striking the NRL player. Recognizing a classic case of 'overcharging' by Prowse and Brown, Hayward felt compelled to report the incident, despite knowing it would have consequences.
He reported what he saw to his supervisor, a crime manager, who then reviewed the footage with him. Initially, the crime manager suggested that Starling was resisting arrest. 'So I sat and pondered for a little while and then started to write the career suicide note,' Hayward said. He subsequently wrote to the police commissioner, triggering an investigation days later.
Aftermath and Consequences
Hayward was appointed officer in charge of the Starling matter and instructed to withdraw most charges against the Canberra Raiders forward. Although he believed he did the right thing, he anticipated backlash from fellow officers. He claims his colleagues at Gosford Police Station effectively blacklisted him, with some leaving anonymous notes on his desk.
The incident led Hayward to resign from the force 18 months later, and he remains angry with NSW Police. 'There's nothing more hypocritical than someone in that position doing those things. You should be arresting people who do that, not doing it yourself,' he stated.
Starling was initially charged with seven offenses, including five counts of assaulting police, affray, and attempting to take an officer's gun. In early 2023, a magistrate dismissed the remaining charges, ruling that police breached their duty and 'assaulted' him. Prowse and Brown were charged with common assault, pleaded not guilty, and their trial is scheduled to start next week.
Starling still plans to sue NSW Police. Reflecting on the incident, he said his primary concern was returning to rugby league, not his bruised face. He described the two-year ordeal as difficult, admitting he often felt judged. 'I used to go to games and just think everyone was thinking, "Oh, there's that thug Tom Starling that assaulted police officers" and did all those things that they said about me,' he said.
The NSW Police Force incurred a record $40 million in settlements and legal costs last financial year, with taxpayer-funded payouts from civil claims including wrongful arrest, unlawful searches, and malicious prosecution.
