William of the White Hand
Junior News Editor
Flashing prison guard reinstated
Date
May 29, 2013
A NSW prison officer who was fired after he exposed his penis to police has won his bid to be reinstated.
Shonit Kumar Danwer was suspended from duties last year after he was convicted by the local court of an indecency offence.
On receiving a letter forewarning his dismissal, Mr Danwer wrote to the service saying: ''I believe that I did not expose my penis to Constable Gosbee but I accept the decision of the court.''
''I have adjusted myself in the public place without it ever realising that it could be offensive.''
This repeated ''denial'' of his wrongdoing, and lack of insight into his offence, led Assistant Commissioner of Corrective Services Luke Grant to decide to terminate his employment, the Industrial Relations Commission was told.
In a statement tendered to the commission this month, Mr Grant said in the ''contemporary correctional environment'' an officer was more than just a ''turn-key'' and was expected to model ''pro-social behaviour'' and motivate offenders to change.
Mr Grant argued that Mr Danwer's unpreparedness to recognise his wrongdoing made him unfit for his duties.
But on Monday, Commissioner Peter Newall ordered that Mr Danwer be reinstated, describing his dismissal as ''harsh''.
While he said Mr Danwer's conduct was ''reprehensible'', and did discredit to the service, it was done while off duty and did not demonstrate an intention to repudiate his employment contract.
He also said the junior officer at the Metropolitan Remand Centre, who continues to maintain his innocence, had a nine-year unblemished work history.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/flashing-prison-guard-reinstated-20130528-2n9ij.html#ixzz2UcBo8Jal
Date
May 29, 2013
A NSW prison officer who was fired after he exposed his penis to police has won his bid to be reinstated.
Shonit Kumar Danwer was suspended from duties last year after he was convicted by the local court of an indecency offence.
On receiving a letter forewarning his dismissal, Mr Danwer wrote to the service saying: ''I believe that I did not expose my penis to Constable Gosbee but I accept the decision of the court.''
''I have adjusted myself in the public place without it ever realising that it could be offensive.''
This repeated ''denial'' of his wrongdoing, and lack of insight into his offence, led Assistant Commissioner of Corrective Services Luke Grant to decide to terminate his employment, the Industrial Relations Commission was told.
In a statement tendered to the commission this month, Mr Grant said in the ''contemporary correctional environment'' an officer was more than just a ''turn-key'' and was expected to model ''pro-social behaviour'' and motivate offenders to change.
Mr Grant argued that Mr Danwer's unpreparedness to recognise his wrongdoing made him unfit for his duties.
But on Monday, Commissioner Peter Newall ordered that Mr Danwer be reinstated, describing his dismissal as ''harsh''.
While he said Mr Danwer's conduct was ''reprehensible'', and did discredit to the service, it was done while off duty and did not demonstrate an intention to repudiate his employment contract.
He also said the junior officer at the Metropolitan Remand Centre, who continues to maintain his innocence, had a nine-year unblemished work history.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/flashing-prison-guard-reinstated-20130528-2n9ij.html#ixzz2UcBo8Jal