A detective who played a central role in the rescue of kidnap victim Cleo Smith committed serious misconduct while in a “relationship” with a young reporter, a corruption watchdog has found.
Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine became an international hero when Western Australian police released footage showing him asking the four-year-old girl her name as she was carried from a Carnarvon home in November 2021.
“My name is Cleo,” she said in the now famous video.
But allegations of misconduct later emerged about the veteran detective and he was investigated by Western Australia’s Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC).
The findings of that report were released on Thursday after being tabled in Parliament, a day after Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine resigned.
The CCC found serious misconduct in relation to Detective Sergeant Blaine’s repeated disclosure of confidential information to media reporters and the repeated misuse of a police four-wheel drive vehicle.
Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine (pictured) became an international hero when footage was released by WA Police showing him asking the four-year-old girl her name
The commission said Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine had developed a relationship with a young female reporter after Cleo’s rescue and repeatedly leaked information to her and other journalists.
According to the report, Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine became “friendly” with a 22-year-old journalist while investigating Cleo’s disappearance.
The journalist, codenamed ‘Ms A’ in the report, told the CCC she had an “intimate relationship” with the detective, which he denied.
The CCC discovered that Ms A had been invited to visit Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine at the Carnarvon Sea Change Apartments a week after Cleo was rescued.
Detective Sergeant Blaine, now about 50 years old, told investigators that Mrs. A had visited his apartment, but he did not reveal any confidential information.
The CCC accepted Ms A’s evidence about the evening’s events and what confidential information was passed to her by Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine.
“The Commission’s investigation revealed that DSS Blaine disclosed confidential information relating to his and other WAPF investigations without any rational basis for doing so,” the CCC said in a statement.
‘In the Commission’s opinion, DSS Blaine’s actions in releasing confidential information included the misuse of information he obtained as a police officer as it was for his own benefit in maintaining a relationship and the benefit of the journalist. ‘
A detective who played a central role in the rescue of kidnap victim Cleo Smith (pictured) has left the force, just days before a corruption report is expected to be released on him.
The report shows that the relationship between Ms A and Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine continued when they returned to Perth from Carnarvon.
“Each intimate relationship appears to have ended in February or March 2022, although contact between them was maintained until June 24, 2022,” the report said.
The CCC also identified 62 cases where Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine breached police vehicle policy by using a Toyota Prado for personal reasons.
“On some occasions, DSS Blaine has recorded why the vehicle was seized as a police matter,” the statement said.
‘In the Commission’s view, DSS Blaine’s misuse of the motor vehicle is a breach of the trust placed in him as a senior police officer.’
Commissioner John McKechnie KC said: ‘The Commission’s report highlights two risks of misconduct in WA Police, exemplified by the conduct of DSS Blaine.’
“WA police officers hold positions of trust. They have access to information that must remain confidential.
“They have access to police resources to do their job effectively and efficiently. If that trust is abused, public trust decreases.’
The CCC seized the detective’s and Ms A’s phones and the contents of both phones were downloaded as part of the investigation.
“DSS Blaine detailed his views on Ms A, the nature of the relationship and her motive for giving what he considers to be false evidence against him,” the committee report said.
“DSS Blaine’s characterization of the relationship is belied by the content of the messages recovered from the phones. The whole of his messages to Mrs. A paints a different picture than he paints now.’
A police spokeswoman confirmed this week that the detective had left the force before the report was released.
“Sergeant General Cameron Blaine’s resignation has been accepted,” a brief statement said.
“No further comment can be made at this time.”
His dismissal meant the officer did not have to face the prospect of being forced out of the WA police force under a so-called Section 8 procedure.
During this process, Police Commissioner Col Blanch would have to explain why he lost confidence in the officer.
Cleo was rescued 18 days after being taken from her family’s tent at the Quobba Blowholes campsite on October 16, 2021.
Detectives entered a home in Carnarvon, about 75km south of the site, on November 3 and found the little girl in a bedroom.
Speaking to the media the next day, Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine said it was ‘absolutely fantastic to see her sitting there… it was incredible.’
‘I asked her what her name was. “One of the guys jumped in front of me and picked her up and I wanted to make absolutely sure that… it was her,” he said at the time.
“I said, ‘What’s your name?’ She didn’t answer…I asked three times and then she looked at me and said, “My name is Cleo.”‘
The detective said it was the best moment of his career.
Cleo’s kidnapper Terence Kelly was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison in April.