Ex-NSW police boss who resigned amid a major corruption scandal and raised his grandkids during daughter’s heroin addiction dies aged 86
- Former police commissioner Anthony Lauer died at age of 86 on November 30
- Mr Lauer was in charge of NSW police force during 1990s corruption scandal
- He resigned and adopted grandchildren as daughter battled drug addiction
A former police commissioner who resigned following a major corruption scandal into the force during the 1990s has died at the age of 86.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Raymond Lauer died peacefully at his home at Glenmore Park, in western Sydney, on November 30.
His family have organised a funeral for Mr Lauer on Tuesday with the ex-top cop leaving behind a chequered legacy.
Mr Lauer was once the most senior member of the NSW Police but was forced to step down following revelations of corruption and bribery among the ranks in 1996.
Adversity struck again when his adopted daughter Tanya battled a heroin addiction that forced Mr Lauer and his wife Joy to adopt their three grandchildren.
A former police commissioner who resigned following a major corruption scandal into the force during the 1990s has died at the age of 86 (right, Tony Lauer)
Anthony ‘Tony’ Raymond Lauer died peacefully at his home at Glenmore Park, in western Sydney, on November 30
Mr Lauer was known to be reclusive and dropped off the radar following his humiliating resignation shortly after the start of the Wood Royal Commission in 1996.
The Royal Commission looked into the extent of corruption and misconduct within the NSW Police with the evidence heavily reliant on secret footage taken of officers.
Hundreds of instances of bribery, money laundering, drug trafficking, fabrication of evidence and destruction of evidence were uncovered.
Kings Cross detectives were exposed as one of the most corrupt within the force with officers receiving thousands of dollars in payments from crime bosses.
Convicted drug dealer Bill Bayeh, nightclub owner Steve Hardas and notorious criminal Pandelis ‘Fat George’ Karipis were among the underworld figures paying ‘rent’.
Sergeant Trevor Haken, six Detective Sergeants and the Detective Inspector in charge Graham ‘Chook’ Fowler all shared in the thousands of dollars in bribes.
The corrupt practice became well-known in police circles as, ‘The laugh’.
One senior drug squad officer was filmed having sex with an ex-prostitute and asking her for drugs and child porn.
In another case, a senior detective and another officer were caught exchanging money they had received as part of a bribe from a well-known drug dealer.
Mr Lauer denied allegations his police force was corrupt but was eventually forced to dismiss his own assistant chief of staff who was mentioned during the Commission.
Tragedy struck again when his adopted daughter Tanya battled a heroin addiction that forced Mr Lauer and his wife Joy (pictured) to adopt their three grandchildren
Convicted drug dealer Bill Bayeh (pictured), nightclub owner Steve Hardas and notorious criminal Pandelis ‘Fat George’ Karipis were among the underworld figures paying ‘rent’
The damning investigation prompted hundreds of police officers to resign, including Mr Lauer.
The resignation marked a dark end to a career in the police force that had spanned 41 years.
Mr Lauer had also been involved in several controversies including claims he planted heroin on disgraced businessman Fayez ‘Frank’ Hakim.
Hakim was a Lebanese criminal considered to be the unofficial ‘godfather’ of his community.
He had connections with NSW Police, politicians and criminals such as Graham ‘Croc’ Palmer and Lennie McPherson.
Mr Lauer raided his office in 1985 and discovered heroin.
Hakim claimed the then-detective inspector had planted the drugs – but the claims were dismissed.
Kings Cross detectives were exposed as one of the most corrupt within the force with officers receiving thousands of dollars in payments from crime bosses
Mr Lauer (pictured, with partner Joy) had his own battles outside of the police force after adopting his three grandchildren Zac, Alex and Isabel while their mother Tanya dealt with a heroin addiction
Mr Lauer had his own battles outside of the police force after adopting his three grandchildren Zac, Alex and Isabel while their mother Tanya dealt with a heroin addiction.
Joy Lauer recalled the moment she discovered her daughter had a drug problem.
‘I did the dreadful thing of searching her room,’ she told ABC’s Australian Story in 2016.
‘That was when I found the methadone bottles and I confronted her.’
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