Dave Flaherty: Head of WA Police Union stood down over allegations of inappropriate behaviour with staffer

The head of the WA Police Union has been stood down as a serving officer over allegations of inappropriate behaviour with an employee but will remain boss of the organisation representing the State’s 7500 cops. Dave Flaherty had been in the job for a bit over a year and making good headway when questions were raised about his interactions with the worker. The West does not suggest that the allegations against Mr Flaherty are true or that he is guilty of any misconduct, only that the allegations have been made. The scandal has again thrown the union into disarray. The organisation has had four presidents in eight years, two of which have left under a cloud. It is understood the board had a fiery meeting in the past few days at which some directors argued Mr Flaherty should stay in the job while the police internal investigation played out. A majority of the board decided it would be hypocritical to ice Mr Flaherty when he had been found guilty of no crime, given the union regularly lambasted WA Police for standing down officers before they had been judged by a court. It is the first time the union has been led by someone who is not a serving police officer. “We can confirm that WAPU and its executive are continuing to perform duties as normal,” the union said in a statement. “WAPU has duties to members and employed staff to protect their interests and rights, while continuing to cooperate appropriately should there be any investigation. “WAPU ensures we provide a safe workspace to value and protect our employees.” Mr Flaherty rolled Paul Gale last February. Mr Gale had been in the job since 2022, having taken over from Mick Kelly, who was placed on “administrative leave” after a dispute with the board. Mr Kelly became president in 2018 after winning an election marred by mud-slinging with incumbent president Harry Arnott. Mr Arnott had been stood aside by the union’s board in 2021 after WA Police launched a managerial investigation into the serving officer. That probe followed a bullying complaint against Mr Arnott lodged by a WAPU board member in July 2020, which the former union boss at the time described as a “blatant attempt to discredit me personally”. The ugly spat went to the WA Industrial Relations Commission, where Mr Arnott claimed Mr Kelly and two fellow WAPU board members had conspired to replace him. Mr Arnott’s bid for reinstatement failed when the IRC ruling released in May revealed he was no longer a serving police officer.