A senior West Australian policeman has been fined $2500 after he was found guilty of dangerous driving when he hit an 18-year-old man who was running away from officers.
The victim, William Farmer, was struck at slow speed and suffered minor injuries from the collision in Thornlie in May last year, which was caught on video.
Senior Sergeant Richard Stephen Moore stood trial in Perth Magistrates Court and was found guilty on Monday but granted a spent conviction.
Magistrate Tom Hall accepted Moore had wanted only to block Mr Farmer, rather than hit him, but said his driving was dangerous.
WA Police Union president Harry Arnott said the penalty, which also included court costs, was excessive and an appeal would be considered.
"We are sick and tired of our members being consistently penalised to a higher degree than the average member of the community," he said.
"We are in no doubt that if a non-police officer faced a similar charge and circumstance, they would have received a much smaller fine."
Australian Associated Press
