Top homicide cop under investigation for alleged misconduct

Immortalised inUnderbelly,Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin has long been the pin-up boy for the New South Wales homicide squad.

Chief Inspector Jubelin has been with the force since 1985,and has been involved in a number of high-profile investigations includingthe Bowraville murders,the brutal killing of Michelle Leng andthe death of mentally ill Sydney woman Courtney Topic.

But the veteran detective has been on desk duty for some weeks,following allegations of bullying and harrassment,and using a mobile phone to illegally record without a warrantinvestigation into what happened to missing boy William Tyrrell.

Until recently,Chief Inspector Jubelin led the hunt for William,who disappeared without a trace from his grandmother's Kendall home in 2014,age 3.

He is now off the case and the subject of a complaint to Professional Standards,with fellow homicide cop Detective David Laidlaw taking control of the 26 officers and the crucial brief of evidence ahead of the Coronial inquest into his disappearance later this month.

On Friday,he told theHerald he had not done anything wrong andhoped to return to work soon."I strenuously deny any wrongdoing,"he said.

Chief Inspector Jubelin has not taken leave,but remains at work in the homicide squad.

Sources told theHerald that Chief Inspector Jubelin has been on desk duty for some time as Professional Standards investigate the allegations,which include claims of bullying and harassment.

It is understood that Chief Inspector Jubelin hopes to attend the inquest,which was announced on the fourth anniversary of William's disappearance in September 2018.

Despite a $1 million reward, 15,000 pieces of evidence and interviews with over 600 persons of interest,he has never been found.

On Friday,Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said an allegation of misconduct was referred to the Professional Standards Command earlier this year,but rejected any suggestion that it would impact the upcoming inquest.

"There are 26 other investigators that have all worked on the William tyrrell strike force diligently ... the matter will proceed to inquest in the hands of the state's most senior homicide inspector David Laidlaw,"he said.

He said the welfare of Chief Inspector Jubelin was"foremost",and the allegations against him would now"move through the system".

Chief Inspector Jubelin attended a directions hearing with William's foster parents in December ahead of the inquest.

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At the time,he told reporters that police continued to probe the disappearance.

"It’s a matter before the coroner,but it is an active investigation,"he said.

Chief Inspector Jubelin also worked on the murder of Sydney man Matthew Leveson,andled the team that found his body buried in the Royal National Park after a decade-long search.

His parents Faye and Mark Leveson threw their support behind the veteran officer on Friday.

"For Matty,he was nothing but professional,caring and compassionate. He puts his all into a case and that's what rubs people the wrong way ... It's very upsetting because he's worked so hard,"said Faye.

She added that she would be"petrified"if a similar scenario had occurred in such close proximity to an inquest into her son's death.