End of the Thin Blue Line for Fox, Retiring after 36 Years

ABC News
November 20, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-20/end-of-the-thin-blue-line-for-fox2c-retiring-after-36-years/5904832

PHOTO: Peter Fox in his early days as a police officer.

A retiring Hunter Valley police officer is questioning why no one has been charged in the wake of the Special Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Peter Fox, whose allegations of church cover-ups helped spark the Newcastle inquiry and subsequent Royal Commission, is officially retiring from the police force today after more than 36 years.

He said he is ready to move on with his life and intends to spend more time with his immediate and extended family.

But he remains concerned that six months after commissioner Margaret Cunneen found evidence warranting the prosecution of a senior church official, nothing has happened.

"The commission made that recommendation back in May, and I'm asking the question," he said.

"I'm not suggesting it's the police force dragging their feet on it, but someone somewhere in the chain certainly is.

"When you've got the second-most senior crown in the state recommending charges, I certainly hope that particular individual doesn't pass away while we're waiting."

After announcing his impending retirement on social media yesterday, DCI Fox was inundated with messages of support and thanks for the personal sacrifices he has made.

He said he has no regrets when he considers the impact of the Royal Commission.

"The changes that will result from it for our future generations of children, just ensuring their safety," he said.

"We can look back and we can look for reasons to be angry, and the failures of systems and things in the past, that's one thing.

"But the main focus of this Royal Commission, it's not about seeking revenge or punishing, although there is some degree of that being passed onto state police forces.

"But, the main thing is to put systems and change legislation to make sure we never ever have the degree of abuse that sadly we've seen in the past."