Senior policeman berated Collingwood for suspending Alan Didak and Heath Shaw
Tony Sheahan and Liam Houlihan | October 12, 2008
A SENIOR police officer berated Collingwood bosses for suspending Alan Didak and Heath Shaw. Paul Ritchie, sergeant at Boroondara, the police station that investigated the Shaw-Didak drunken car smash in Kew, sent the email to the club's chief executive.
The passionate Pies supporter said the decision to ban the players "virtually ended any chance we have of making a real impact in the finals this year".
Sgt Ritchie sent the email to Pies boss Gary Pert just four days after his officers attended Shaw and Didak's car accident scene in August. Sgt Ritchie did not attend the scene.
"This has unfairly and prematurely ended the season for the rest of the playing group, the club's long suffering members and supporters and, just as importantly, the club's sponsors who want the team to win . . . to justify the large sums of money they pump into the club," he said.
The senior officer also defended Didak, who fled the scene of the car smash then lied to the AFL club about his presence in the car.
"Alan has attracted bad publicity for all the wrong reasons, yet has NEVER been convicted of traffic or criminal offence in a court, unlike a lot of other players . . . playing in AFL clubs," Sgt Ritchie wrote.
Sgt Ritchie, who has held his rank for more than 12 years, lobbied Mr Pert that the players' cover-up was sticking to the values of the Magpies anthem.
"As for their lying . . . Shaw thought he was protecting Didak for being out drinking and Didak didn't want to put Shaw in for lying to you, so he went along with the story.
"I think 'mateship' is the terminology -- Side By Side We Stick Together," Sgt Ritchie wrote.
Sgt Ritchie yesterday said he wrote the email as a Pies fan and club member -- not as a police officer.
"The idea was to get the players back on the field before the end of the finals. It didn't happen so now put it to rest," he said.
Sgt Ritchie distributed the email to a third party, but yesterday said he asked that person to show it only to "a couple" of Collingwood people.
In the email, Sgt Ritchie offered to mentor Didak or "watch him", rather than see the player traded to another club. Mr Pert confirmed he received the letter.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24481687-19742,00.html
