A man claims he was choked by an off-duty police officer in front of his daughter, leading him to lose trust in law enforcement. Sean Beasley was driving with his daughter, Sky, in Perth's western suburbs on February 27, 2024, when the incident occurred. The officer involved, Sergeant Glen Morey, has not faced any charges, with police citing "insufficient evidence".

Matthew Zilko, the WA Parliamentary Inspector, expressed confusion over the police's decision. In his annual report, he stated, "There was more than sufficient evidence for a magistrate, rather than the Internal Affairs Unit, to determine whether an offense had been committed."

Dramatic photos taken by Sky during the altercation show Sergeant Morey with his hand on the back of Mr. Beasley's neck. Enhanced images suggest that Morey's other hand was on Mr. Beasley's throat.

The confrontation began when Mr. Beasley alleges that Sergeant Morey cut him off while driving. "There was nothing to it — I beeped him, he gave me the finger, I gave him the finger back," Mr. Beasley recounted. The situation escalated when both vehicles stopped at a red light, prompting Sergeant Morey to exit his car, an action he later admitted was "foolish".

Accounts of the incident differ. Mr. Beasley claims he initially told Morey to leave but eventually got out to confront him. "He wouldn't go back to his car … he's blocking the entrance to my car … so I grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to move him back," he said. Sky, sitting in the front passenger seat, felt panicked and jumped out to take photos. "I was afraid for my dad," she said, adding that she attempted to pull the sergeant off her father.

Mr. Beasley managed to escape Morey's grip and slapped him. However, Sergeant Morey contends that Mr. Beasley punched him. The Parliamentary Inspector's report noted that both parties used some degree of force during the altercation.

After the incident, Mr. Beasley went to the Scarborough Police Station, where he showed officers photos of his injuries, including scratch marks and a torn shirt. At that time, he was unaware that Morey was a police officer. The following day, the WA Police Internal Affairs Unit contacted him, assuring him of an objective investigation.

Two months later, Mr. Beasley received a letter stating there was insufficient evidence to charge Sergeant Morey. He expressed disbelief, saying, "If it had been me [allegedly] choking him, an off-duty police officer, and there were photos of my hands around his neck, there's no way in hell they would have abandoned the pursuit."

Sergeant Morey has denied the allegations. WA Police stated that he underwent internal managerial investigation but maintained that there was not enough evidence for charges. A spokesperson emphasized the department's commitment to transparency and accountability regarding police misconduct.

Mr. Beasley later filed a complaint with the WA Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC), which initially sided with WA Police but later reversed its findings. The CCC concluded there was sufficient evidence to charge Sergeant Morey with aggravated assault and suffocation.

In his report, the Parliamentary Inspector noted that the Internal Affairs Unit suggested Sergeant Morey could claim provocation or self-defense, complicating potential court proceedings. He criticized the police for not being entirely objective in handling misconduct allegations, stating, "There are obvious difficulties in prosecuting an assault where both parties have applied force to each other."

Lawyer Jeremy King, who specializes in police misconduct, highlighted the inherent bias in police investigations. He argued that independent bodies should determine the outcome of such cases. "The fact is that two independent bodies have looked at this and have said it does warrant charges," he said. King also pointed out that many police forces in Australia are not required to follow recommendations from oversight bodies, leading to a loss of faith in the system among victims of police misconduct. "They feel they can no longer dial triple-0, they can no longer go to their police station and report crimes," he added.