Disgraced policeman resigns as long-running IBAC probe drags on

When asked by Redlich if he had lost sight of where the line needed to be drawn, Dean became emotional and replied, “Yes, sir.”

“I could see it and I didn’t stop it,” he said.

Ten days before his arrest in February, Dean was captured by surveillance devices meeting with Meletsis near the Victoria Police headquarters in West Melbourne, IBAC heard.

In exchange for $3000, Meletsis allegedly asked Dean to obtain CCTV from a Thomastown storage facility after a unit containing illegally stored tobacco was burgled. Dean told IBAC he was not aware of the unit’s contents.

“It could bite me in the arse,” Dean allegedly told Meletsis before he visited the business.

The veteran officer was also grilled by IBAC over his long association with underworld figure Mick Gatto.

When Dean first started on the force, he would meet with Gatto about once a week at a Lygon Street restaurant, later exchanging regular text messages and phone calls.

However, Dean told the IBAC hearing he had been unaware of Gatto’s criminal history.

Catherine Boston, the counsel assisting IBAC, repeatedly questioned the truthfulness of Dean’s responses during the hearing.

“What I’m putting to you is it is completely implausible that you were unaware that this man had a criminal history,” Boston said.

Despite the compelling evidence against Dean and his own admissions of misconduct, no charges have been laid nearly three years after the investigation was launched.

An IBAC judge would only confirm the investigation of Dean was ongoing, but refused to discuss why charges had not been laid.

“Operation Bredbo is an ongoing investigation into allegations that a Victoria Police officer misused their position to improperly influence people involved in commercial disputes and civil litigation,” the defendant said.

A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed that Dean had been suspended in February 2022.

“That member remained suspended with pay until they resigned in January 2024,” the spokesperson said.

Dean did not respond to calls or messages from The Age.

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